‖ Marriage Avoidance Conditions Gender Gap, Male ‘Cost·Income’ Female ‘Career·Patriarchal Culture’

‖ Differences in Expectations Regarding Marriage Conditions: Men (Jeonse, Education, Full-Time Employment), Women (Parenting, In-Law Relationships)

‖ 44.1% of married women with children reported feeling unwelcome in restaurants and cafés.

□ KoPHWA conducted 「The 2nd Demographic Behavior & Awareness Survey」 and announced its result.

○ The survey was conducted to examine evolving values and needs related to marriage, childbirth, parenting, and work-family balance among the Korean population, targeting 500 unmarried individuals, married men, and married women aged 20 to 44 residing across the country.

(Survey Target) Individuals residing in South Korea, aged 20-44 years old

(Survey Period) 2024.10.01. ~ 10.22.

(Survey Topic) Values related to marriage, childbirth, and childrearing, and work-family balance behavior among the Korean population

(Survey method) Computer-assisted telephone interviewing (CATI)

(Sample Size) 2,000 respondents (500 each of unmarried individuals, married men, and married women)

- In particular, the survey design distinguished more clearly between unmarried and married respondents in order to better capture the characteristics of each group. The focus was placed on perceptions and attitudes toward marriage and childbirth among the married, and on experiences and attitudes related to work-family balance among the unmarried.

□ The main survey results for each survey target are as follows.

○ 【Marriage Intention】 Among the unmarried population, 41.5% of men and 55.4% of women reported that they were either unwilling to marry or had not yet made a decision.

• Men: No intention to marry(18%), not yet to decide (23.5%)

• Women: No intention to marry(26.6%), not yet decided (28.8%)

○ 【Reasons for Not Intending or Hesitating to Marry】 Among unmarried individuals, men showed a notable gap in marriage intentions due to the burden of marriage-related costs (13.8%p) and low income (7.2%p), while women cited patriarchal family culture (9.4%p) and concerns about career disruption (8.7%p) as key reasons.

• Items with Higher Response Rates Among Men: Burden of marriage-related costs (13.8%p), low income (7.2%p), desire to avoid relationship constraints(3.5%p), preference for single lifestyle(2.3%p), and other reasons (1.4%p).

• Items with Higher Response Rates Among Women: Aversion to patriarchal family culture and traditional relationship roles (9.4%p), concerns about career disruption (8.7%p), difficulty finding a suitable partner (7.4%p), and prioritizing work before marriage (2.6%p).

○ 【Gap in Marriage Conditions (Men)】 Among unmarried men, there is a perceived gap between the conditions women expect and what men believe they should possess.

The largest gaps were observed in preparedness for jeonse funds (6.5%p), educational background (6.4%p), and employment in a full-time position (3.2 %p).

○ 【Gap in Marriage Conditions (Women)】 Among unmarried women, there was a perceived gap in expectations, with men’s desired conditions exceeding what women themselves considered necessary—particularly in getting along with in-laws(17.2%p) and participation in childcare and housework (10.7%p).

• Conditions Desired by Men in Women Partner: Active participation in childcare and housework (97.3%), Employment (82.9%), and sufficient income (70.4%)

• Conditions Desired by Women in Men Partner: Employment(95.4%), active participation in childcare and housework (93.5%), and sufficient income (91.2%)

○ 【Awareness of Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Childcare Support Systems】 Both unmarried men and women showed high awareness of the childcare leave system (88.0% for men and 90.7% for women). In contrast, awareness of reduced working hours during the parenting period and reduced working hours during pregnancy was relatively low.

• Men: Parental leave (88.0%), spousal maternity leave (73.0%), pre- and postnatal leave (71.8%), reduced working hours during the parenting period (42.1%), reduced working hours during pregnancy (39.5%)

• Women: Parental leave (90.7%), spousal maternity leave (79.4%), pre- and postnatal leave (77.8%), reduced working hours during the parenting period (54.8%), reduced working hours during pregnancy (50.2%)

○ 【Preferred Duration of Male Parental Leave Use】 Both married men and women most commonly preferred a parental leave period of one year or more (43.0% of men, 37.9% of women).

• Men: One year or more (43.0%), 3–6 months (18.1%), 9–12 months (17.6%), etc.

• Women: One year or more (37.9%), 9–12 months (24.9%), 3–6 months (17.6%), etc.

○ 【Intention to Use Flexible Work System】 Both married men and women responded that they hoped to use the flexible work system during infant care period. (94.5% of women, 90.8% of men).

○ 【Preferred Types of Flexible Work Systems】 Both married men and women most preferred work-from-home (35.1% of men, 29.4% of women) and time-selective jobs (33.6% of men, 39.2% of women), with married women showing a particularly strong preference for time-selective jobs.

• Men: Work-from-home (35.1%), time-selective job (33.6%), staggered commute (17.4%), flexible work hours (8.7%), remote work (5.3%)

• Women: Time-selective job (39.2%), work-from-home (29.4%), staggered commute (22.0%), flexible work hours (7.5%), remote work (2.0%)

○ 【Experience Using Support Systems for Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Childcare】 The usage rate of parental leave among married women (49.6%) was approximately twice as high as that of married men (24.0%).

※ This item measures lifetime usage experience and, unlike employment insurance statistics, includes individuals beyond those in legally insured employment.

- In particular, the most commonly used system among women was pre- and postnatal leave (54.2%), while for men it was spousal maternity leave (40.4%).

• Men: Spousal maternity leave (40.4%), parental leave (24.0%), reduced working hours during childcare (14.3%)

• Women: Pre- and postnatal leave (54.2%), parental leave (49.6%), reduced working hours during pregnancy (28.9%)

○ 【Opinions on Expanding Parental and Prenatal Leave Coverage】 Both married men and women expressed strong agreement ("slightly agree" + "strongly agree") with the idea of expanding parental and prenatal leave to all working parents, with 95.7% of men and 98.9% of women in support.

- Regarding funding the expansion through taxes, support remained high among both groups (93.0% of men, 95.2% of women) compared to expanding coverage by requiring self-employed individuals to pay additional insurance premiums (77.5% of men, 83.0% of women).

• Men: Tax funding (93.0%), additional insurance premiums for self-employed (77.5%)

• Women: Tax funding (95.2%), additional insurance premiums for self-employed (83.0%)

○ 【Concerns About Causing Disruption When Accompanied by Young Children in Multi-Use Facilities】 A significant proportion of married men (38.7%) and women (44.4%) expressed concern about families with young children potentially causing disruption in restaurants and cafés.

- Among specific venues, married men were most concerned about potential interference in libraries (47.6%), while married women expressed the greatest concern in movie theaters (57.2%).

• Men: Libraries (47.6%), movie theaters (44.7%), art galleries and museums (41.1%), etc.

• Women: Movie theaters (57.2%), libraries (54.4%), art galleries and museums (51.1%), etc.

○ 【Unwelcomed Experience with Young Children in Multi-use Facilities】 For married men and women, ‘Unwelcome Experience with Young Children in Restaurants and Cafes’ (27.8% for males, 44.1% for females) was the highest.

• Man: Restaurants and cafes (27.8%), public transportation (17.9%), art galleries and museums (14.6%), etc

• Woman: Restaurants and cafes (44.1%), public transportation (31.2%), art galleries and museums (27.8%), etc

○ [Attitudes Toward Work–Family Balance] The following findings are based on a survey examining life value priorities, parenting priorities, and attitudes toward male parental leave.

- Life Value Priority (Work vs. Childrearing): Unmarried women were the only group who placed a higher value on work (50.4%) than on childrearing. In contrast, all other groups prioritized childrearing over work.

• Work-focused responses: Unmarried women (50.4%), unmarried men (47.1%), married men (42.1%), married women (39.6%)

- Parenting Priority (Economic Resources vs. Time Availability): While all groups emphasized the importance of economic resources in parenting, more than 40% of respondents in all group also valued having time to spare. Notably, married women (44.4%) rated time availability as their top priority.

• Prioritizing time to spare: Married women (44.4%), unmarried men (43.7%), married men (42.6%), unmarried women (42.1%)

- Attitudes Toward Male Parental Leave (Mandatory vs. Voluntary): Across all groups, there was a preference for the mandatory implementation of male parental leave, rather than leaving it to company discretion.

• Support for mandatory implementation: Unmarried women (74.4%), married women (71.3%), married men (68.8%), unmarried men (65.6%)

○ [Concerns About Disruption by Families with Young Children in Multi-Use Facilities] All groups—except married men—reported that over 40% of respondents felt bothered (slightly or very) by the presence of families with young children in restaurants and cafés.

- Restaurants and cafés: Unmarried women (47.8%), married women (44.4%), unmarried men (42.0%), married men (38.7%)

- When asked about specific facilities, men expressed the greatest concern about disruption in libraries, while women were most concerned about disruption in movie theaters.

- Library: Unmarried men (62.0%), married men (47.6%)

- Movie theater: Unmarried women (66.7%), married women (57.2%)

□ Lee Sam-sik, president of KoPHWA, who oversaw the survey, said, “It shows that the values and attitudes of the 2040s are closely related to marriage and childbirth.”

○ “It is important to closely analyze the survey results and implement proactive measures to support work–family balance, so that both men and women can view marriage and childbirth as benefits rather than burdens,” he said.

○ In addition, he said, “Unmarried men and women reflect a mix of traditional norms and emerging values. We hope that the results of this survey will serve as foundational data for developing low birth rate countermeasures and contribute meaningfully to policy formulation.”

Latest Updates

Key Results: The 2nd Demographic Behavior & Awareness Survey (2024)