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January 2005
Korea Becoming Less Family Centric, Study |
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A Korean study indicates changes in the attitudes of Korea's
unmarried men and women. In the once family-centric country,
many single men and women expressed an interest in staying
single. It may signal a cultural shift and/or may be caused, in
part, by the current economic recession.
According to a study done by the Korea Development Institute (KDI),
26% of unmarried Korean women surveyed were focused on work, not
marriage. Of the single men surveyed, 50% said financial worries
were their main reason for not starting a family. Data was
gathered by the Korean Institute of Health and Social Affairs,
within the KDI, and included 773 respondents-389 single women
and 384 single men.
Their Reasons
Nearly one-fourth of the women felt marriage was not essential
to a fulfilling life, one-fifth felt unprepared financially, and
about one-tenth were worried about being in a binding legal
contract with a spouse.
More than a third of single men were very concerned with
financial responsibility, and one-fifth of single men wanted to
focus on work rather than family. Other reasons men cited for
staying single included: marriage is unnecessary, and marriage
is too restrictive.
No Interest in Children
Reasons given by the men and women who did not want children
were similar. 44% of women said love between husband and wife
was sufficient for a happy life, and 38% spoke of finances. The
women's other reasons included: children being a career
obstacle, and a dislike of children.
46% of men said money was the primary reason. 42% said love
between husband and wife was enough, and men's other reasons for
staying childless were similar to women's
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