Significant Increase in Elderly Considering Divorce Compared to 20 Years Ago
Oldest Divorce Counseling Clients: Women 89, Men 90
The number of elderly people aged 60 and over considering divorce has surged compared to 20 years ago. Women cited their husbands' violence as a reason for divorce counseling, while men pointed to long-term separation.
According to the Korea Legal Aid Center for Family Relations on the 11th, an analysis of 5,065 people (4,054 women and 1,011 men) who sought divorce counseling in 2024 showed that the proportion of 'women aged 60 and over' was 22.0%. This is more than three times higher than in 2004 (6.2%). During the same period, 'men aged 60 and over' increased sharply from 8.4% to 43.6%, more than fivefold.
By age group, women in their 40s accounted for the largest share at 29.7%, while men aged 60 and over made up the largest proportion at 43.6%. Among those who received divorce counseling, the oldest clients were women aged 89 and men aged 90.
Looking at the reasons for divorce by age group, women in their 60s and 70s cited their husbands' violence and other unfair treatment, long-term separation, personality differences, economic conflicts, and husbands leaving home, in that order. Women aged 80 and above cited long-term separation, economic conflicts, personality differences, husbands' violence and other unfair treatment, and husbands' infidelity, in that order.
The counseling center explained, "Domestic violence issues were very serious even among the elderly. Most clients said they had been subjected to violence by their husbands since early in the marriage but could not actively consider divorce when they were younger because their children were young and they faced economic difficulties."
For men, the reasons for divorce in their 60s were long-term separation, personality differences, alcoholism, wives leaving home, and wives' violence and other unfair treatment, in that order. Men in their 70s and 80s cited long-term separation and personality differences.
The counseling center stated, "Long-term separation and wives leaving home were the main reasons for divorce among elderly men. They complained that although they had worked all their lives to support their families, they were still forced to earn living expenses even in old age, which was very difficult." They added, "During counseling, these men revealed that after retirement, they felt treated as useless. They said their wives were socially active outside the home, which made them feel isolated, and even if they wanted a divorce, dividing assets would make life more difficult, so making a decision was not easy."
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