On September 30, 2026, South Korea's Seoul Shinmun reported that 'As the number of couples consisting of Korean men and Japanese women increases, the number of female members is also rapidly increasing at Japanese marriage agencies that support marriages with Korean men.'

According to reports from Japanese media, 'There is an increasing number of Japanese women who say they can't forget Korean men once they've dated them and want to marry them.' An analysis of South Korean statistics revealed that the number of marriages between Korean men and Japanese women surged after the COVID-19 pandemic. Last year, it reached 1,483 couples, the highest number since 2000.

The newspaper interviewed a marriage agency in Tokyo that supports marriages between Korean men and Japanese women. The number of female members this year has doubled compared to last year, and many members reportedly joined due to K-POP and Korean dramas. Many women wish to live in South Korea, and if the man resides in South Korea, most women reportedly move to South Korea after marriage. The agency also analyzes that the spread of SNS, which has made Korea-Japan couples feel more familiar than before, is one factor in the increase of members. Although 40% of the Korean male members cannot speak Japanese, the development of translation apps has lowered the language barrier.

Furthermore, the newspaper introduces the advantages of international marriage through examples of Japanese women who are looking for Korean men as marriage partners or who have dated/married Koreans. Some women feel that Korean men express affection verbally and show consideration for women, and one member said, 'Because they cherish you, once you date a Korean man, Japanese men honestly feel somewhat lacking.'

On the other hand, some voices say, 'The mother-in-law/daughter-in-law relationship is stricter than in Japan' and 'Not all men are as gentle as those in Korean dramas.'

Additionally, among Korean men, Japanese women have an image of being 'gentle and warm' and are said to be popular.

In addition, the article also addresses the burden of marriage expenses in South Korea. In South Korea, when marrying a Korean woman, there is a custom for the man to prepare the residence, and because the financial burden is significant, there are cases where men hesitate to marry. A Korean man said, 'In South Korea, discussions about conditions such as a house or annual income come first. In Japan, it feels like people look at whether personalities match first.'

Regarding this article, Korean netizens commented: 'Korean men and Japanese women reportedly have a low divorce rate, so they must be compatible.' 'It's true that Korean men are popular, but it's not just anyone. It's limited to handsome men.' 'They just like handsome men like those in dramas. Don't get their hopes up.' 'According to a Japanese friend, Japanese women who like Korea are often outgoing, while Korean men who like Japanese women are often socially awkward introverts. Dating Korean men who like Japanese culture doesn't seem easy.' 'Fundamentally, well-mannered men are popular regardless of nationality.' 'Japanese women have a different level of consideration for others. They are kind-hearted. Study Japanese right now and date a Japanese woman.' Various comments were received. (Translated and edited by Asa-e)