The trend of "living together" among young Koreans.

More and more couples in South Korea are choosing to live together before marriage. What was once considered taboo in Korean society is now seen as a way for couples to find the right person before committing to a lifelong relationship.

A South Korean couple "lives together" before marriage. Photo: Korea Times

According to a survey conducted in March involving 1,050 single men and women aged 19-49 nationwide, 79.4% of respondents said that "living together" is part of the process of preparing for married life.

The survey shows growing support for the view that "living together before marriage is wiser than rushing into marriage." While the percentage supporting cohabitation was 54.6% in 2018, this figure rose to 62.7% in 2021 and 67% in 2026, respectively.

According to the survey, "living together with the intention of marriage" is the most socially accepted form of cohabitation, receiving support from 60.9% of participants.

While more open to cohabitation before marriage, many people remain cautious about living together without getting married. Consequently, support for this trend decreased from 55% in 2021 to 44.7% in 2026. Notably, over 80% of participants in their 20s and 30s responded positively to cohabitation without marriage.

And while 74.8% of survey participants agreed that society needs to accept more forms of family, including unmarried couples and single parents, many still believe that institutional recognition needs further debate.

According to the South Korean Presidential Committee on Aging Society and Population Policy, the rate of births outside of marriage is expected to reach nearly 6% in 2024. Experts predict that both cohabitation without marriage and births outside of marriage will continue to increase.

In the past, unmarried couples living together often faced social stigma, even if they were engaged. Parents, for their part, strongly opposed cohabitation before marriage, fearing social disapproval and that their children might violate traditional values.

However, attitudes towards cohabitation are changing today. Many people see it as a reasonable step before marriage and a way to avoid rushing into marriage only to have it quickly fall apart.

TRI VAN (According to Korea Times)

Source: https://baocantho.com.vn/xu-huong-song-thu-cua-gioi-tre-han-quoc-a205217.html