"Saving Emotions and Money, Mom Feels Easier Than a Partner"... Generation Z Becomes "Eommisae"

Family Over Romance... Shifting Direction of Intimacy
Rising Housing Costs and Job Market Struggles Fuel the Increase of "Full-Time Children"

A new slang term, "Eommisae," is rapidly spreading among Generation Z, who range from their mid-to-late teens to their twenties. The word, which literally means "a person obsessed with their mom," is used affectionately to describe young people who enjoy traveling, shopping, and spending everyday life with their mothers.

On social networking services (SNS) and online communities, it is easy to find young people who refer to themselves as "Eommisae." On YouTube, content such as "dating with mom" or "shopping with mom"—sharing daily life with mothers—is steadily being uploaded.

In the past, children who were especially close to their parents were labeled as "mama’s boys" or "mama’s girls," often with a negative connotation. Nowadays, however, there is a growing trend of young people proudly displaying their close relationships with their parents. New slang terms centered on family are also emerging, such as "Eonnisae" (for those close to older sisters) and "Dongmisae" (for those close to younger siblings).

AI-generated image to aid in understanding the article. Gemini

"It's okay not to date"... Shifting Intimacy from Romantic Partners to Family

Interestingly, the proportion of young people who are not in romantic relationships is increasing. According to a 2022 survey on perceptions of dating, marriage, and childbirth conducted by the Korea Population, Health and Welfare Association, 65.5% of unmarried people aged 19 to 34 said they were not currently dating. Among them, 70% said they were "voluntarily single," meaning they were not dating by their own choice.

A survey conducted last year by data consulting firm PMI also found that 71.7% of unmarried men and women aged 20 to 49 were not in a relationship. The most common reason was "not feeling the need to date."

However, this does not mean that young people are avoiding close relationships altogether. According to the "Relationship Perception Survey" by Korea Research, 94% of respondents aged 18 to 29 said they preferred "deep relationships with a few people" rather than "shallow relationships with many." It shows that the emotional support, empathy, and daily sharing once provided by romantic partners are now often fulfilled by family.

Experts point to relationship fatigue, economic burdens, and uncertainty about the future as the main reasons. The burdens of dating—which require time, emotional investment, and financial cost—have grown, while job insecurity and housing instability persist. As a result, young people are increasingly relying emotionally on family, whom they perceive as the most familiar and safest relationships.

Content sharing daily life such as shopping and traveling with mom is steadily being posted among young people. Instagram capture

Delayed Independence Due to Job Market and Housing Prices... Increase in "Full-Time Children"

The "Eommisae" phenomenon is also influenced by changes in young people’s housing situations compared to the past. According to the "2024 Survey on the Lives of Young People" by the Office for Government Policy Coordination, 54.4% of young people aged 19 to 34 live with their parents. Among those living with their parents, 56.6% cited "economic circumstances" as the reason they had not moved out. Only 38.0% said they had specific plans to become independent.

The combination of rising home and rental prices, difficulties in finding employment, and increased living costs is causing young people to delay moving out on their own. Statistics from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) also show that, as of 2022, about 81% of Koreans in their twenties live with their parents—significantly higher than the OECD average of 50%.

Recently, the term "full-time children" has appeared, referring to children who live with their parents and take on household tasks such as cleaning, cooking, and caregiving. Rather than viewing dependence on parents negatively, there is a growing perception that this is a new way of sharing roles among family members.

The fact that young people naturally accept phenomena such as "Eommisae" and "full-time children" is seen as a social phenomenon that reflects changing family relationships and realities among the younger generation. Experts explain that having family as an emotional haven can be a positive protective factor. However, they emphasize that even while maintaining a close relationship with parents, it is important for young people to develop autonomy so that they are able to make their own choices and take responsibility for them.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.