"Marriage Costs in Korea Reach 360 Million Won, Men Reluctant to Marry"... Japanese Media Points to Jeonse System

[Financial News] Nihon Keizai Shimbun (The Nikkei) has reported on the reality in Korea, where high costs are causing men to avoid marriage.
On the 2nd, The Nikkei cited a survey conducted by Korean matchmaking company Duo in February, which found that the average cost required for marriage amounts to 361.73 million won, based on responses from 1,000 couples married for up to two years.
The largest portion of marriage expenses was housing costs. These reached 304.08 million won, an increase of 60 million won from the previous year.
The Nikkei noted, "Due to Korea's Jeonse system, the initial funds needed to secure a newlywed home are excessively high."
Wedding ceremony costs are also on the rise.
According to the Korea Consumer Agency (KCA), wedding expenses announced in September reached 21.6 million won, a 4% increase over three months.
The Nikkei also mentioned the 'Wedding Package (Studio, Dress, Makeup)' trend, explaining that as the cost of preparing for photo shoots—an essential item in Korea—increases, the term 'Sdeume-flation' has emerged to describe rising labor and studio costs.
Rising marriage costs are cited as a major reason why young people are reluctant to marry.
A survey conducted last October by the Korea Population, Health and Welfare Association, under the Ministry of Health and Welfare, found that among 500 unmarried men aged 22 to 44, 42% said they had no intention to marry or had not yet decided.
Among them, 25% cited 'the burden of marriage costs' as the main reason for delaying marriage.
Although local governments such as the Seoul Metropolitan Government are making efforts to use public facilities as wedding venues or offer low-cost wedding packages, The Nikkei pointed out that "Korea's strong Confucian culture places great emphasis on appearance, social status, and tradition in weddings."
The article continued, "Although the 'small wedding' style, which invites only a few guests, is gaining attention, it remains uncertain whether the parent generation will accept it," adding, "Korean society needs to ask itself who marriage is really for."
newssu@fnnews.com Kim Soo-yeon Reporter