Visiting In-Laws After Remarriage During Holidays... "Comparison with Ex-Daughter-in-Law is the Most Uncomfortable" Ranked #1

Pressure from Curiosity and Attention: "What Kind of Person Is It This Time?"
Negative Perceptions of Holidays Are Spreading... "Traditions Must Keep Up With the Times"

After remarriage, the most uncomfortable aspect when visiting the wife’s or husband’s family during the Lunar New Year holiday was being compared to the ex-son-in-law or ex-daughter-in-law.

Remarriage information company Only-U revealed the results of a survey on the 1st titled “What is the most uncomfortable aspect when visiting the wife’s (husband’s) family during the Lunar New Year after remarriage?” The survey was jointly conducted by Only-U and marriage information company Bienarae, targeting 516 divorced men and women nationwide who hope to remarry (258 men and 258 women) from the 25th to the 29th of last month.

According to the survey, 32.2% of men answered “being the center of attention,” while 33.3% of women answered “being compared to the ex-daughter-in-law.”

The second most common response was “being compared to the ex-son-in-law” for 27.5% of men, and “being the center of attention” for 28.3% of women, indicating that both men and women feel burdened by the attention and comparisons from their spouse’s parents and siblings.

An Only-U official explained, “When a man visits his wife’s family after remarriage, he feels uncomfortable with the gaze and attention from his wife’s parents and siblings wondering ‘What kind of person is he this time?’” He added, “Women also face comparisons with the ex-daughter-in-law regarding appearance, cooking skills, lifestyle habits, and manners when visiting their husband’s family after remarriage, which inevitably causes discomfort as a new family member.”

Other concerns for men included “unfamiliar family members (25.6%)” and “unfamiliar holiday customs (14.7%).” For women, the order was “unfamiliar holiday customs (22.1%)” followed by “unfamiliar family members (16.3%).”

When asked, “Which social phenomenon recently highlighted around the Lunar New Year makes remarried Lunar New Year hopeful?” men and women gave different answers.

Men chose “highlighting of holiday aftereffects (29.5%)” as first, while women chose “increase in overseas travelers (31.4%)” as first. The second choice for men was “simplification of holidays (25.5%),” and for women, it was “avoidance of proxy filial piety (24.4%).”

Son Dong-gyu, CEO of Only-U, said, “Negative perceptions of holidays are widely spreading regardless of gender or age group,” adding, “Even traditions with good intentions need to be modernized quickly if they fail to keep up with the times, as they can damage family members’ or couples’ relationships.”