Korea may adopt common-law marriages, civil unions as perceptions shift

Social Affairs

Published: 30 Nov. 2023, 07:00 Updated: 30 Nov. 2023, 18:44

Korea may adopt common-law marriages, civil unions as perceptions shift

A bride and groom exchange wedding rings [PIXNIO]

Eight out of ten Koreans would welcome the recognition of various forms of marriage, including common-law marriages, a recent governmental poll says.

The public’s gradually shifting views on traditional marriage could impact government policy, including potentially granting spousal benefits to non-traditional couples.

A majority also agreed that French-style civil unions that legally bind and validate partnerships between two adults could help solve today’s infertility problem.

The Presidential Committee on Ageing Society and Population Policy, Gallup Korea and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism conducted a weeklong survey of 1,200 adults in mid-October.

The survey was the first to ask citizens about various forms of marriage.

Unlike Western countries that legally recognize common-law marriages and same-sex marriages, Korea has maintained a stricter and more conservative position, only registering marriages between opposite-sex couples.

Governmental survey results of people's perception toward various forms of marriage [LEE JUNG-MIN]

Regarding whether various forms of marriages should be accepted, 34.2 percent of respondents said they “completely agree,” while 46.8 percent said they “moderately agree.” In total, 81 percent agreed with accommodating various forms of marital arrangements.

Of that 81 percent, 77 percent believed France's “PACS” system could boost fertility rates.

A PACS (pacte civil de solidarité), or civil solidarity pact, lets cohabitating unmarried couples receive tax and welfare benefits.

The system provides more flexibility than formal marriage, allowing couples to live together and break up relatively easily. It offers an alternative to couples who want to have children but do not want to tie the knot officially.

France introduced PACS in 1999. In 1998, the ratio of children born out of wedlock was 41.7 percent. Last year, it rose to 63.8 percent.

Korea’s ratio of births outside of marriage was 2.9 percent as of 2021, the lowest among Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development countries.

A birth registration form prepared at a district office in Seoul [YONHAP]

In Korea, births outside of wedlock are socially stigmatized.

Unless the birthparents are registered as a married couple in national records, the parents and children are usually ineligible to receive maternal benefits such as infertility treatment and maternity leaves.

Long story short, the parents and children are regarded as illegitimate.

Despite the closed-mindedness of today’s system, middle-aged respondents were surprisingly open-minded.

Among survey respondents over 60, 84.8 percent agreed with the need to accept various types of couples, as did 83.6 percent and 80.5 percent of respondents in their 40s and 50s, respectively.

The presidential committee recognizes the need to take shifting perceptions into account. It believes now is the right time to start a long-term social discussion to introduce various marriage systems per such changes.

“Cohabitation before or without marriage used to be considered sensitive, so the committee has refrained from surveying or investigating,” an official from the committee said. “However, with societal attitude becoming more accepting, new policies and systems could contribute to fostering an environment where younger Koreans could meet their partners more freely.”

The committee also surveyed the most effective measures to boost the birth rates.

Working mothers leave an office building with their children attending corporate kindergarten in Mapo District, western Seoul in July, 2018. [YONHAP]

Helping parents balance parenting and work was the most selected of the seven options. More than one-fourth of the respondents voted for this choice, calling for extended parental leave and reduced working hours.

The second favorite was establishing social infrastructure for child care and medical services. The least voted option was providing cash-related support.

Some 80.9 percent of respondents said there is a correlation between media and birthrates. Around 77 percent of respondents said a media campaign should be launched to raise awareness regarding marriage and childbirth.

The committee plans to create advertisements and television programs to portray the brighter side of parenting and having children.

“Today’s media tends to highlight the negative aspects of marriage, parenting and giving birth, eventually making people turn their heads away from having children. A new strategy of naturally portraying the happiness and joy from children is needed,” the official said.

The committee has asked for 50 billion won ($38 million) for next year’s promotional activities. The National Assembly is reviewing the request.

BY NAM SOO-HYOUN, LEE SOO-JUNG [lee.soojung1@joongang.co.kr]