A 'Single' Friend Asking for Travel Expenses... "Absurd vs Should Pay What You Received"

"Give 100,000 Won Each for Travel Expenses" Debate
With Increasing Non-Marriage, Companies Also Introduce 'Non-Marriage Welfare'

As a story spread about a friend who declared 'non-marriage' asking married friends to contribute to travel expenses, netizens have been engaged in heated debates.

On the 23rd, an anonymous post titled "A friend is asking for travel money because she is not married" was uploaded on the workplace anonymous community Blind.

The writer stated, "There are five close friends including myself since middle school, and except for friend B, who declared non-marriage when young, all are married," adding, "B attended friends' weddings and gave congratulatory money ranging from 300,000 to 500,000 KRW."

[Photo by Asia Economy DB]

He continued, "We have expressed our feelings through gifts at friends' first birthday parties and other celebrations," and said the problem started recently when B was preparing for an overseas trip. The writer revealed that B asked for 100,000 KRW each for a 40th birthday trip.

The writer then said, "Is it a bit rude to openly ask for money like this?" and added, "I want to hear many opinions on whether I am the strange one or if the times have changed and I should follow along."

As the story spread, netizens criticized the writer with comments like "You should return as much as you received," and "Shouldn't you contribute more than 100,000 KRW?" On the other hand, some opinions stated, "Personal trips are not celebrations," and "There is no official reason."

Rapid Increase in Single-Person and Unmarried Households... Companies Introducing 'Non-Married Welfare'

[Photo by Asia Economy DB]

Meanwhile, changes in perceptions about marriage values are becoming prominent. According to Statistics Korea, the number of couples who registered their marriage in 2021 was 192,507. This is about a 41.5% decrease from 329,087 couples in 2011 over ten years.

Conversely, the proportion of single-person households among all households has continued to rise, reaching 33.4% in 2021. As of 2020, the proportion of unmarried men in their 30s was 50.8%, and the proportion of unmarried women in their 30s was 33.6%.

As non-marriage increases, companies are also recognizing that non-married employees should receive the same benefits as married ones. For example, LG Uplus decided from January this year to provide employees who declare non-marriage with 100% of the basic salary equal to the marriage support fund and five days of paid leave. SK Securities also agreed through a tentative labor-management agreement to provide support funds to employees who declare non-marriage.