This question torments year-old Kim Jeong-sik not his real name , who invests significant time and money in his search for a suitable partner. I do not even initiate dates with people I cannot picture the future with even though I am attracted to them. It is an unspoken rule among Koreans in their 20s and 30s to prepare such descriptions, often accompanied by two to three pictures, to facilitate blind dates arranged by acquaintances, according to her. These profiles are sometimes exchanged like business cards.
Despite finding it emotionally draining to meet new people every week, she feels compelled to continue the process. Mr Kim and Ms Kang identify as part of the MZ generation — known for being more liberal, self-expressive and inclined towards the fulfilment of personal pleasures. Born in the s when South Korea reaped the benefits of economic growth and technological advancements, this generation has also faced significant pressures and challenges in a highly competitive and rapidly changing society.
Observers note that these social changes have influenced their approach to making crucial life choices in early adulthood, including the pursuit of marriage. This is why prospective partners are often meticulously evaluated on factors such as occupation, salary, physical appearance, age and lifestyle. Rather than finding a compatible partner, people often seek those who rank highest in economic and social aspects, like graduating from a prestigious university or working at a major conglomerate, Ms Kwak noted.
These trends were highlighted in a recent TV reality programme Couple Palace, which provided insights into the marriage market in Korea. It featured single men and women openly airing their qualities and desires, from income to property ownership to occupation. This development sparked public debate over materialism in Korean society. Reviewers found the show successful in presenting the paradoxical phenomenon of a boom in matchmaking despite all-time low births and marriages.
The number of marriages in South Korea has steadily decreased over the past decades from some , in to below , in A record low of , marriages in marked a plunge of more than 55 per cent in 25 years, according to recent data by Statistics Korea.
