The trend of single motherhood in Korea

With a population of approximately 51 million, South Korea saw its birth rate hit a record low in 2023, with an average of 0.72 children per woman. While a society deeply rooted in traditional East Asian values, analysts suggest a shift is underway among younger generations in modern South Korea.

A single mother in South Korea. Photo: EASTASIAFORUM

Hyobin Lee, a visiting professor of politics and ethics at Chungnam National University, observed: “There was once a deeply ingrained prejudice in Korean society against women who became mothers out of wedlock. A woman who gave birth without being married was automatically considered guilty.” According to her, this attitude wasn't limited to unmarried mothers; it extended to divorced and widowed women, who were often looked down upon and stigmatized in traditional Korean society. These women were often perceived as having little desire to remarry. Professor Lee also noted that there was virtually no criticism directed at the men involved in similar situations. Furthermore, in a patriarchal society, stigma against children born out of wedlock seemed inevitable.

However, the latest figures from the South Korean government show that discriminatory attitudes towards single mothers are no longer as prevalent as before. In 2023, approximately 10,900 babies were born to women who were not married or living together as a couple, accounting for 4.7% of all births and the highest number since statistics began being collected in 1981. While that number may be relatively small compared to other countries, it shows an upward trend in the country, with 7,700 illegitimate births in 2021 and 9,800 in 2022. Due to increasing work pressure, young people are finding it difficult to consider starting a family. Furthermore, a study published in 2023 showed that South Korea has the highest cost of raising children in the world . This shift in social norms has also led to a higher number of divorces.

Professor Hyobin Lee points out several other key factors that may contribute to the trend of single motherhood. In 2020, Sayuri Fujita, a Japanese television personality with a large following in South Korea, confirmed that her newborn son was conceived through sperm donation and that she was not married. Similarly, a contestant on the popular TV show "I Am Solo" stated that she was unmarried but wanted a child, so she had a son with her ex-boyfriend and accepted being a single mother... Such stories are not uncommon in Korean society. Some women want children but cannot find a suitable partner or become pregnant while dating and choose to give birth and raise their children alone. Even the Korean government has implemented more welfare policies to support children from single-parent families. Previously, welfare policies mainly focused on encouraging birth rates in happy and normal families. Now, there are more tax breaks and preferential policies for children of single parents when applying for preschool or daycare, as well as when applying for housing.

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