hankyoreh

A bride holding a bouquet

The marriage rate in South Korea hit another record low last year.

The level - the lowest since 1970, the first year statistics were tallied - could signal the arrival of a new generation forgoing romance, marriage, and childbirth because of employment concerns.

A report on marriages and divorces in 2015 released on Apr. 7 by Statistics Korea calculated the rate of first marriages as 5.9 out of every 1,000 married people. The rate of first marriages was calculated at 9.2 in 1970, 10.6 in 1980, and 9.3 in 1990 before falling to 6.6 in 2011. Since then, it has declined steadily, with rates of 6.5 in 2012 and 6.4 in 2013. After hitting a new record low of 6 in 2014, the new numbers showed it dipping even further last year.

The average age of South Koreans marrying for the first time - a number closely tied to the birth rate - continued to rise, reaching 32.6 for men and 30 for women. The 30-and-over average for women was also a first since statistics have been kept. The average ages have risen by 1.7 years for men and 2.2 years for women compared to ten years ago.

An official with Statistics Korea said the decline in the total population aged 20 to 39 - considered the most optimal age group for marriage - had a “direct impact” on the declining marriage rate.

“It appears there was a complex mixture of other economic and social factors as well, including higher rates of advanced education, increasing ages at first employment, and the youth unemployment rate,” the source added.

By Noh Hyung-woong, staff reporter

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