An in-depth analysis of the latest data from Statistics Korea reveals a significant rise in international marriages, signaling evolving cultural dynamics and demographic changes in Korea.
More than 10 percent of marriages in Korea last year involved Korean nationals and foreigners, reaching a peak not seen in over a decade, according to a report released by Statistics Korea on Tuesday.
In its comprehensive annual review of marriage and divorce trends, the statistics agency disclosed that the number of international marriages surged to 19,700 in 2023, marking an 18.3 percent increase from the previous year.
The proportion of international marriages to the total number of unions reported nationwide in 2023 stood at 10.2 percent, the highest ratio since 2010 when it peaked at 10.5 percent.
A spokesperson from Statistics Korea emphasized the significance of this trend, noting that while international marriages had predominantly exceeded 10 percent in the early 2000s, they had remained in single digits from 2011 to 2022. The dip to as low as 6.8 percent during the COVID-19 pandemic underscored the impact of travel restrictions on cross-cultural unions.
The easing of entry regulations and a surge in outbound travel have contributed to greater opportunities for Koreans and foreign nationals to meet and form marital bonds, the spokesperson explained.
Of the total international marriages documented, 14,700 comprised a Korean husband and a foreign wife, witnessing a notable increase of 22.5 percent from the previous year. Meanwhile, the number of couples with a Korean wife and a foreign husband grew by 7.5 percent to 5,000.
Vietnamese women accounted for 33.5 percent of foreign wives, followed by 18.1 percent from China and 13.7 percent from Thailand. Among foreign husbands, U.S. citizens represented 27.7 percent, followed by 18.4 percent from China and 15.8 percent from Vietnam.
Geographically, Jeju Island reported the highest proportion of international marriages at 13.4 percent, trailed by South Chungcheong Province at 12.5 percent and South Jeolla Province at 12.3 percent. In contrast, Sejong City and Daegu recorded lower ratios at 6.3 percent and 8.3 percent, respectively.
Despite the increase in marriages, the number of international couples who divorced in 2023 rose to 6,100, compared to 5,800 the previous year.
While the overall number of marriages in Korea saw a marginal uptick of 1 percent in 2023, reaching 193,700, the average age for first-time marriage continued to climb. Men's average age at first marriage rose to 34 years, up by 0.3 year from 2022, while women's average age reached a new high of 31.5 years, up by 0.2 year.
This trend coincides with Korea's demographic challenges, as the nation grapples with a persistently low fertility rate. In 2023, the fertility rate plummeted to 0.72 births per woman, down from 0.78 in 2022, exacerbating concerns over population decline and aging demographics.