Japanese Media: Marriages Between Korean Men and Japanese Women Reach Highest in a Decade

Nihon Keizai Shimbun Reports
"Korean Wave and Rising Economic Power Behind the Trend"

Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported on the 13th that the number of marriages between Korean men and Japanese women is increasing, attributing this trend to the influence of the Korean Wave and the growing economic strength of South Korea.

According to Statistics Korea, the number of marriages between Korean men and Japanese women last year was 1,176, a 40% increase compared to the previous year. This is the highest number in the past ten years. In contrast, the number of marriages between Korean women and Japanese men was only 147, which is one-fifth of the figure from ten years ago.

Nikkei pointed out that when comparing 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic, and 2024, five years later, the number of Koreans marrying people from China, the Philippines, and Vietnam has decreased, while marriages with Japanese partners have increased by 13%.

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The newspaper stated, "In the 1970s and 1980s, many Korean women married Japanese men and moved to Japan due to Japan's economic strength and a labor shortage in rural areas. In the 1980s and 1990s, the number of Japanese women moving to Korea increased due to mass weddings held by the Unification Church." It continued, "Since the mid-2010s, there has been a rise in cases where women who are interested in Korea migrate for marriage. During this period, South Korea surpassed Japan in nominal GDP per capita, and men's salaries have become comparable."

The media outlet also analyzed that the popularity of Korean culture in Japan since the early 2000s has contributed to the increase in marriages between Japanese women and Korean men. Nikkei quoted a wedding industry official as saying, "The generation in Japan that watched Korean dramas such as 'Winter Sonata' is more accepting of their children or grandchildren marrying Koreans," and added, "There are quite a few Japanese women who are already well acquainted with Korean culture even before marriage."

Oikawa Hiroe, a professor of Korean studies at Hongik University, explained that 30-40% of Japanese women living in Korea after marriage cite their admiration for Korea and a sense of fulfillment as their reasons for residing there. However, she noted, "During the boycott of Japanese products in Korea in 2019, 95% of Japanese women felt anxious," and added, "Japanese women living in Korea are always aware that Korea-Japan relations could deteriorate." In response, Nikkei emphasized, "Stable political and diplomatic relations are necessary to maintain the enthusiasm for marriage, which can be considered the frontline of private diplomacy."