'Attach Withholding Tax' and Prove Annual Salary of 200 Million Won... Ordinary Applicants Instantly Rejected, Marriage and Dating Apps

Only Those Earning Over 70 Million Won Annually Can Join
High-Income Earners and Apartment Residents Date and Marry Among Themselves, Widening the Gap
"Roles and Efforts for Coexistence Are Needed"

Recently, dating applications (apps) for the upper class have gained popularity, and marriage information groups composed of residents of specific apartment complexes have also emerged. This phenomenon has arisen as 'materialism,' which prioritizes wealth in finding dating and marriage partners, has become widespread.

Major high-end dating and marriage applications require verification of income, professional occupation, and asset holdings.
[Photo by each company capture]

On the 17th, the number of downloads for three major high-end dating and marriage apps exceeded 300,000, with over 11,000 reviews. In the case of Company A, a high-end dating app, it is mandatory to verify at least one of income, professional occupation, or asset holdings. For income, classifications include ‘high income’ with an annual income of over 70 million KRW, ‘hundred million won annual salary’ at 100 million KRW, and ‘two hundred million won annual salary’ at 200 million KRW or more, each granting a different badge. Since it is linked with the National Tax Service for identity verification, deception is virtually impossible.

An annual income of over 70 million KRW corresponds to the top 15% or higher among wage earners. According to the ‘Analysis of Wage Income Percentile Data’ by the Korea Labor and Society Institute in March, as of 2022, the top 0.1% of wage earners earned 720 million KRW, the top 1% earned 178 million KRW, the top 5% earned 110 million KRW, the top 10% earned 85 million KRW, and the top 20% earned 58 million KRW.

The app structures of other companies are similar. Company B promotes premium matchmaking and requires verification of income, occupation, real estate, and automobiles. Users must submit actual withholding tax receipts, income certificates, or professional licenses to join. Company C is known for being the first to introduce a system that automatically verifies employment certificates, professional licenses, and diplomas through workplace or school emails. To join here, one must be a graduate of a specific university or major.

Some people who tried to join after being recommended by acquaintances felt a sense of self-deprecation. Mr. Won (30) said, “A friend recommended the app, so I tried to use it once, but I was rejected because my annual salary was under 70 million KRW,” and sighed, “It seems like a world of their own.” Mr. Kim (31) said, “I was ‘instantly rejected’ from the very first registration process,” adding, “Considering my salary growth rate, I think I might be able to join in a few years.”

In ultra-luxury apartments, matchmaking gatherings among residents have emerged. Last month, residents of ‘Raemian One Bailey’ in Seocho-gu, Seoul, formed a small group to facilitate meetings between unmarried men and women within the complex. Eligible members include residents of Raemian One Bailey themselves or their children and family members, with a membership fee of 100,000 KRW and an annual fee of 300,000 KRW. The group stated, “We expect to facilitate meetings with good partners within this year and provide opportunities for communication through the One Bailey resident network,” adding, “We pursue broad and natural encounters through various events such as meetings for unmarried children.”

Marriage rates are polarized according to income levels. According to the 2022 ‘Dynamic Analysis of Labor and Childbirth Intentions’ by the Korea Labor Institute, from 2017 to 2019, the marriage rate of men in the top 10% income bracket was significantly higher than that of men in the bottom 10% across all age groups. The marriage rate for men aged 31-35 in the top 10% income bracket was 76%, compared to 31% for the bottom 10%. For ages 36-40, the top 10% was 91%, and the bottom 10% was 47%. For ages 41-45, the top 10% was 96%, while the bottom 10% was 58%.

Professor Gu Jeong-woo of the Department of Sociology at Sungkyunkwan University said, “As economic disparities deepen, everything is becoming stratified, and a preference for homogamy in marriage is being created. This is an inevitable trend, and it is difficult to judge it morally as right or wrong,” emphasizing, “However, the widespread sense of inferiority throughout society is a problem. It is important for the government and society to play roles and make efforts for coexistence.”