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This scene captures the beauty of a Korean wedding where tradition and modernity come together in harmony.
Amid the elegant atmosphere of a classic wedding hall,
the bride and groom exchange vows of love,
reflecting the grace and emotional depth of Korean marriage culture.
Even today, many couples in Korea cherish mutual respect and gratitude toward their families,
while celebrating their love in a modern wedding style. |
Korean Marriage Culture: A Story Where Tradition and Modernity Coexist
Introduction: Marriage, the Most Significant Rite of Passage in Life
Dear readers, hello!
Today, I would like to introduce you to the unique marriage culture of Korea.
Let’s begin right away.
In every country, marriage is regarded as one of the most important turning points in life.
In Korea as well, marriage holds a meaning far beyond a simple contract between two individuals.
For centuries, marriage was considered a crucial event that upheld family honor and lineage,
and it also served as a means to consolidate social status.
However, with industrialization, modernization, and the spread of individualism,
Korea’s marriage culture has evolved into a distinctive blend where tradition and modernity coexist.
In this article, we will explore how Korea’s marriage culture has changed over time
and what marriage means in modern Korean society today.
1. Marriage in Traditional Society: The Union of Two Families
Until the Joseon Dynasty, marriage was understood not as the culmination of love,
but as the alliance between two families.
Marriage was not a personal choice but a decision made by the elders of each family,
and in many cases, the bride and groom met for the first time on their wedding day.
The purpose of marriage was not simply for a couple to live together
but to continue the family line and maintain social standing.
For this reason, factors such as wealth, status, and scholarly background
were considered far more important than personal feelings.
1-1. The Procedures of a Traditional Wedding
Traditional Korean weddings followed a set of established steps,
usually conducted in the following order:
-
Uihon (議婚) – The stage where both families discuss the potential marriage through a matchmaker
-
Napchae (納采) – The ceremony where the groom’s family formally proposes the marriage to the bride’s family
-
Nap’pae (納幣) – The presentation of engagement gifts as a token of betrothal
-
Chinyoung (親迎) – The traditional ceremony in which the groom personally brings the bride to his home
All of these steps emphasized mutual agreement between families and social propriety,
and the legitimacy of the process was more important than the wedding ceremony itself.
Marriage, therefore, was viewed less as a “vow of love” and more as an “alliance between families.”
2. The Introduction of Western-Style Weddings
At the end of the 19th century, Korea began to be influenced by Western culture,
and Western-style weddings introduced by Christian missionaries appeared as a new form.
In 1890, the first Western-style wedding in Korea was held at Jeongdong Church in Seoul,
marking a major turning point in the nation’s marriage customs.
The bride wore a white hanbok (traditional Korean attire) with a veil,
while the groom wore a frock coat and a hat.
At that time, it was said that “the attire was Western, but the heart remained traditional.”
During the 1920s and 1930s, influenced by the “New Women” movement,
attitudes toward marriage began to shift.
Marriages based on love and romance emerged,
and newspapers and magazines frequently discussed the topic of “love marriages” as a new social issue.
3. Marriages Based on Love: The Emergence of Romantic Unions
3-1. The Introduction of the Concept of “Love”
The word “yeonae (戀愛)”, meaning “romantic love,”
entered Korea in the late 1910s,
having been imported through Japan and China as a translation of the English word love.
In a society where marriage had long been determined by families,
the concept of “marriage based on love” represented an entirely new idea.
In the 1920s and 1930s, love stories of students studying abroad and “new women”
became popular subjects in newspaper serials.
The notion of “tragic love,” where lovers risked their lives for each other,
was even romanticized among the younger generation of the time.
3-2. The Shift from Arranged to Love Marriages
Up until the 1970s, arranged marriages were still the norm.
Parents, relatives, or community elders would act as matchmakers
to find a “suitable partner” from a family of appropriate standing.
However, from the 1980s onward, industrialization and urbanization
led people to meet more freely at workplaces and schools,
and the rate of love marriages rose dramatically.
According to statistics from the 1980s,
arranged marriages dropped from 58% to 39%,
while love marriages increased from 36% to 55%.
This marked a shift in decision-making power—from parents to the individuals themselves.
4. Changing Meanings of Marriage and the Trend of Late Marriages
4-1. Changes in Average Age at First Marriage
In the 1920s, the average age at first marriage in Korea
was 21 for men and 18 for women.
A century later, it has risen to about 33 for men and 31 for women.
This phenomenon of late marriage results from a combination of social factors,
including longer years of education, financial pressures, and growing individualism.
As job stability and home ownership have become preconditions for marriage,
many young people now view marriage as a life choice rather than an obligation.
4-2. From “Marriage = Duty” to “Marriage = Choice”
In the past, those who did not marry were often stigmatized as “unmarried,”
but in today’s Korea, non-marriage (bihon, 非婚)
is increasingly accepted as one valid way of life.
Marriage is no longer something one must do,
but something one may or may not choose to do.
This shift in perception has taken deep root among younger generations.
5. Marriage in Law and Institutions
In Korea, marriage is legally recognized only after official registration.
Article 807 of the Korean Civil Code states that “a person aged 18 or older may marry,”
though minors still require parental consent.
Korea also practices the “separate-surname system” (夫婦別姓制),
where spouses each retain their original family name after marriage.
This differs from the “same-surname system” found in Japan or many Western countries
and represents a unique cultural trait where a woman keeps her maiden name after marriage.
In addition, legal recognition of marriage requires an official registration.
A de facto marriage (where a couple lives together without registering)
is partially protected by law,
but such couples do not have inheritance rights.
6. The Landscape of Modern Korean Marriage: Diversity and New Forms
6-1. The Increase in International Marriages
With globalization and the spread of multiculturalism,
international marriages have steadily increased in Korea.
In the early 2000s, about 15% of all marriages
were between Koreans and foreigners.
Many of these were between Korean men and women from Vietnam, China, or the Philippines,
though recently, marriages between Korean women and foreign men have also risen.
This shift is more than a demographic trend—
it symbolizes Korea’s transformation into a multicultural society.
6-2. Dual-Income Couples and “Weekend Marriages”
In Korea, “living together” does not always mean “being together every day.”
Due to career obligations, some couples live apart during the week,
forming what are known as “weekend marriages.”
Such couples respect each other’s professional lives
while creating a new form of marriage where they spend weekends together.
6-3. Choosing Non-Marriage and Child-Free Lifestyles
In recent years, more individuals have chosen not to marry,
and even among married couples,
many opt not to have children — often referred to as DINKs (Double Income, No Kids).
These couples view marriage not as a family obligation,
but as a partnership based on mutual companionship.
Some even reject the institution of marriage altogether,
choosing cohabitation or single living instead.
These trends illustrate that Korean society is increasingly open
to diverse ways of life and relationships.
7. The Coexistence of Tradition and Modernity: Today’s Weddings
Modern Korean weddings beautifully blend traditional and Western elements.
Many couples hold their main ceremonies in wedding halls,nity,
with the bride wearing a white gown,
and afterward, they change into hanbok for the paebaek (幣帛) ceremony.
In this ceremony, the bride bows to her in-laws
and expresses gratitude — a deeply meaningful tradition still practiced today.
Some couples also choose to hold traditional weddings
in hanok (traditional houses) or historical sites,
reflecting both pride in Korean heritage
and a desire to make their wedding truly special.
8. How Foreigners View Korean Marriage Culture
To foreign eyes, a Korean wedding appears to be a fascinating blend
of tradition and modernity, East and West.
The elegant colors of the hanbok, the family-centered etiquette,
and the sight of newlyweds bowing to their parents
all reflect the Confucian values of filial piety deeply rooted in Korean culture.
Korean marriage culture harmoniously incorporates
Western ideals of romantic love
and Eastern family-centered values,
creating a unique combination rarely seen elsewhere in the world.
Conclusion: Korean Marriage, Tradition Embracing Change
The history of Korean marriage is not one of rupture, but of evolution.
It has transformed from family-centered unions
to love-based marriages,
and now to modern marriages that value individuality and diversity.
Today’s Korean weddings combine
hanbok and white dresses, traditional rituals and modern ceremonies,
family customs and personal expressions of love —
making them a true cultural art form.
Though the meaning of marriage has changed with the times,
it remains one of humanity’s most beautiful promises,
a bond that connects one person to another.
In this sense, Korean marriage culture is a living tradition —
one that preserves its heritage while embracing new change.
“Love changes the times, and the times change the shape of love.”
Korean marriage culture stands as one of the most beautiful proofs of that truth.
Thank you for reading.
I look forward to sharing more wonderful content with you next time.
