Six in Ten Women Living in Rural Towns and Villages Say They Have No Intention to Marry

KIHASA Announces Survey Results at Population Forum

Only 27% of Rural Residents Say "I Will Stay After Marriage"

Six out of ten women living in rural towns or villages in provincial areas do not intend to get married, according to recent findings.

The Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs (KIHASA) announced these results on August 27 during the 43rd Population Forum, held in cooperation with the Presidential Committee on Low Birthrate and Aging Society at the Jeonnam-Gwangju Unified Special City Hall. The announcement was based on the "Population Migration and Settlement Survey."

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Last month, KIHASA surveyed 1,741 unmarried men and women aged 19 to 49, asking about their dating rates, how they meet partners, physical proximity to their partners, and whether they have moved residences. According to the findings, the percentage of respondents currently in a relationship was similar between the Seoul metropolitan area (27.0%), metropolitan cities (29.0%), and urban districts in provincial areas (28.0%), but was comparatively lower in provincial towns and villages at 18.2%. However, the intention to date among those not currently in a relationship did not vary significantly: 42.1% in the Seoul metropolitan area, 37.4% in metropolitan cities, and 41.3% in provincial towns and villages.

Research fellow Cho Seongho of KIHASA emphasized, "Although the rate of being in a relationship is lower in towns and villages of provincial areas, the intention to date shows no regional difference. This suggests dating is more a matter of opportunity than willpower."

For respondents currently in relationships, the most common ways of meeting partners in the Seoul metropolitan area and metropolitan cities were activity-based (such as through school, work, or clubs), followed by network-based (through neighbors or introductions from acquaintances), and then through online apps or the internet. In provincial towns and villages, meeting partners through activities was also most prevalent (44.7%), but the shares for network-based (27.5%) and app/internet-based (24.1%) meetings were similar. This means that one in four individuals in relationships who live in rural towns or villages met their partner via an app.

Regarding willingness to marry, there was little variation among men across regions, but women showed clear differences. Among women, the share responding "no intention to marry" was 41.6% in the Seoul metropolitan area and significantly higher, at 57.7%, in rural towns and villages. As for their reasons, men most frequently cited "economics, employment, or housing" (50.9%), while the highest proportion of women (51.0%) said they "see no need" to get married.

About half (48.7%) of the unmarried population in rural areas are natives. Among these locals, willingness to marry was only 28.0%, lower compared to people from other regions (35.1%) or returnees who moved back to their hometowns (41.1%).

The proportion of respondents who said they would remain in their current location if married was lowest in rural towns and villages at 27.5%, whereas it was higher in metropolitan cities (42.9%) and the Seoul metropolitan area (37.8%). Among those currently in relationships, 70.4% said they intend to move to another region within five years.

When asked to name the most important policy needed to help settle in a region, respondents in all areas most frequently selected "jobs and income." In comparison, the rate choosing "housing support" was less than half that. Regarding the potential for relocation thanks to remote and flexible work, 49.7% of men and 62.2% of women answered that it "would be effective."

Research fellow Cho stressed, "The issue of meeting partners is not a matter of individual will, but of regional opportunity structure. Improving conditions for women to stay or move—including the quality of jobs and opportunities for remote work—should be prioritized."

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