On August 30, 2026, Korean media Maeil Business Newspaper reported that while the number of young people not marrying is increasing in both Japan and Korea, their reasons differ greatly.

According to the article, the results of a recently announced survey on the attitudes of young people in both countries revealed that the tendency for young Koreans not to marry is "closer to an 'unavoidable resignation' hindered by insufficient asset formation and economic uncertainty, rather than a change in values." Young Koreans prioritize "reducing the burden of housing costs," "childbirth and childcare support," and "specific economic and institutional support, such as fathers' participation in childcare" as necessary conditions for marriage. It is said that removing clear economic barriers such as housing prices and child-rearing costs has become an urgent task.

On the other hand, young Japanese people prioritize lifestyle-related factors in addition to "economic stability," such as "opportunities to meet people," "relationships not bound by legal marriage," and "an environment where personal hobbies can be continued after marriage." In Japan, it was analyzed that concerns about the infringement of individual freedom and a lack of sufficient opportunities to build relationships in the first place are the main factors hindering marriage.

According to the article, in the case of Korea, the difference in the speed of entering society is also a factor contributing to the declining birthrate. Young Koreans tend to have longer job-seeking periods after university graduation than their Japanese counterparts, and this delayed entry into the labor market creates a structural problem where dating, marriage, and the birth of the first child are postponed.

Furthermore, differences between the ideal number of children and actual birth plans also highlighted characteristics of both countries. In Japan, 27% of married households with children hoped for three or more children, while 55.7% of childless households were "child-free by choice," showing a trend of polarization. In contrast, young Koreans, regardless of marital status, tended to seek a realistic compromise within the range of 1 to 2 children.

To the question, "Do you (your generation) think you can brighten the future of your country?", 34.7% of young Koreans responded affirmatively, almost double Japan's 19.8%. To the question, "Should young people in both countries cooperate to solve common issues such as the declining birthrate?", 40.1% of young Koreans (especially 51.8% of men) agreed, significantly exceeding Japan's 23.7%. The article comments that they "show a more open attitude."

This survey was conducted jointly by Japan's "Council to Choose the Future" and the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, targeting 2,000 young people aged 20-39 from each country.

In response to this article, Korean netizens posted various comments such as: "The idea that low marriage rates are due to housing prices is wrong," "Employment is the problem, not housing prices. If you can't get a job, marriage is impossible," "Good workplaces are controlled by the Democratic Labor Union, maintaining vested interests," "Because the Democratic Labor Union will never let go of its vested interests, young people can't get jobs, have no money, can't get married, and naturally, can't have children," "Even if I want to get married and have children, when I think that my child might live a life like mine, I really can't have children," and "Korean women desire hypergamy, but the standards of modern women have risen considerably both socially and economically compared to the past. On the other hand, men have not particularly improved compared to women. Perhaps this is a side effect of the clash between hypergamy culture and modern gender equality." (Translation/Editing by Asae)