In the Heart of a Single: Non-Marriage in Korea

In Korea, more than 30% of women in their 30s and older are single, and the percentage of single men is over 50%. With marriage rates declining, this social change presents both challenges and opportunities for businesses.

Introduction of 'non-marriage' allowance

At Lush Korea, a cosmetics company, employees are given a congratulatory gift of 500,000 won (about 50,000 yen) and paid leave for a honeymoon when they get married. However, this is a benefit that people like Kim Seul-gi will never receive.

“I am a member of a sexual minority. In Korea, I have no connection to legal marriage,” says Kim Seul-gi.

To address the sense of inequality, Rush Korea introduced a 'non-marriage allowance'. If you declare that you have no intention of getting married, the company will pay you 500,000 won and 10 days of paid leave. So far, more than 20 employees have used this system.

Rush Korea pays allowances to employees who declare themselves single

“I applied because I thought it would be nice if I could receive the same benefits as married people through this system,” says Kim Seul-gi. “Because everyone feels like they are being treated equally, their motivation for work also goes up.”

Kim Seul-gi received a stipend from the company after declaring that she would not get married

If a person who received this allowance changes his or her mind and gets married, there is no need to return the allowance. The only thing is that no wedding gift money will be paid.

Kim Min-seon, who is in charge of the welfare system at Rush Korea, explains that this allowance is not intended to encourage single life, but rather to respect diverse lifestyles and values. She also says that it leads to securing excellent talent.

“During job interviews, many applicants appeal that they want to work for a company that matches their values. The number of long-term employees is also increasing within the company.”

Kim Min-seon, Welfare Manager at Rush Korea

Although it is a small number, companies such as investment companies, department stores, and major telecommunications companies have been introducing systems like Rush Korea for several years. Some companies pay an allowance equivalent to one month’s basic salary, and some give houseplants instead of flower wreaths at weddings.

Marriage avoidance

In Korea, the declining marriage rate has given rise to the term 'non-marriage'. Unlike 'non-marriage', which means planning to get married in the future, 'non-marriage' refers to people who have decided not to get married.

According to Statistics Korea, the unmarried rate among men in their 30s has increased more than fivefold compared to 30 years ago, and among women it has increased more than eightfold.

“The main reasons why the younger generation does not get married are mainly economic factors, such as skyrocketing real estate prices and high educational expenses,” explains Kim Young-ran, a researcher at the Korean Women’s Development Institute.

“The fact that there is support for single-person households does not provide an incentive to decide whether or not to get married, nor does it contribute to the low birth rate. If support for single-person households among the younger generation becomes more active, I think it will lead to economic stability. Perhaps this support could lead to marriage.”

Kim Young-ran, Research Fellow, Korean Women's Development Institute

Meal for one

The rise in single-person households means more people are eating alone, and the aversion to eating alone at restaurants is also decreasing.

A Seoul restaurant chain is capitalizing on this trend by offering traditional Korean food in a new way.

'Bossam' is usually ordered in a large plate and shared among several people, but this Bossam is made into a single serving so that people can eat it without feeling burdened.A customer in his 30s said, “In the past, you had to order at least two servings of a menu, but now I can eat alone here,” and “It’s nice to be able to eat without worrying about other people.”

A guest in his 30s eating a dish usually served to group guests

The founder of this chain said he sensed this change and started the business 10 years ago.

“We thought that if we offered single-serving dishes that were previously unavailable for single servings, demand would explode,” says CEO Park Yo-ha. “Starting with bossam, we added new dishes for multiple servings, such as pig’s feet and pork belly, to the menu.”

Next, I am focusing on drinking culture. “In Japan, there is a culture of drinking alone, but this style has not yet penetrated Korea, so this time I am thinking about opening a store where people can drink alone without any hesitation.”

Park Yo-ha, CEO of a restaurant that serves one-person bossam