Highly educated, affluent Koreans turn to international marriage brokers

Rapid weddings raise questions as brokered couples wed in less than 10 days on average

By Jung Da-hyun

More than half of individuals using international marriage brokerage services in Korea are college graduates, and one in three earns a high income, with monthly earnings exceeding 4 million won ($2,924).

International marriage brokerages in Korea, once predominantly used by men with lower educational backgrounds and incomes, are now experiencing a shift in perceptions and trends. However, some still criticize the process facilitated by intermediaries as unnatural, citing concerns about the typically brief duration from the initial meeting to marriage.

According to the 2023 marriage brokerage survey released by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, Thursday, 50.6 percent of international marriage brokerage clients hold a university degree or higher, surpassing the 49.4 percent with an education level below high school for the first time since the annual survey began in 2014.

In 2014, clients with an education level below high school made up a significant 70.2 percent. The academic background of both Korean clients and their foreign brides has seen a notable shift, with those holding a university degree or higher increasing from 12 percent in 2014 to 26 percent in 2023.

Income levels have also changed dramatically. The highest average monthly income category for international marriage brokerage clients is now more than 4 million won, comprising 34.8 percent of clients.

This is followed by 29.1 percent earning 3 million won to 3.99 million won, 28.9 percent earning 2 million won to 2.99 million won and 7.2 percent earning less than 1.99 million won. In 2014, only 11.3 percent of clients earned more than 4 million won monthly, indicating a significant income increase over nine years.

Age demographics show that 86.5 percent of Korean clients are aged 40 or older, seeing a continuous rise since the first survey.

Meanwhile, the majority of foreign spouses were in their 20s, comprising 60.6 percent. But this percentage has been decreasing since 2017, while those aged 30 or older have been increasing, now making up 39.4 percent.

Experts attribute the changing trend in international marriage to shifts in Korean society’s population structure.

In the past, international marriages in Korea were often characterized as marriages between older rural bachelors and young foreign women in their 20s. However, with rural residents now comprising less than 10 percent of the total population of Korea, such marriages have become less common.

“The demographic using international marriage brokerage firms has shifted from rural to urban centers,” said Seol Dong-hoon, a professor of sociology at Jeonbuk National University.

The gender ministry also said that there has been a rise in the number of people using international marriage brokerage services, with about 40.4 percent of clients now residing in major metropolitan areas such as Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi Province.

“Previously, international marriage was pursued mainly by the low-income class, but now the middle class is also contemplating it,” Seol said.

He also highlighted as a contributing factor the surge in university enrollment rates during the 1990s, with over 70 percent of students now pursuing higher education.

The education level of the foreign brides has risen as well.

“In the past, rural bachelors would opt for less-educated partners, fearing that a highly educated spouse might eventually leave them. However, with the shift in client demographics, this concern has diminished,” he explained.

However, Cho Jung-hyun, a professor from the international law department at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, highlighted persistent concerns regarding the fundamental issues surrounding international marriage brokerage.

Cho raised questions about whether the report’s findings indicate an apparent positive societal trend in international marriages due to the brokerage system among the highly educated and affluent.

“The report suggests a positive shift away from the traditional stereotype of international marriages between elderly rural bachelors and young foreign women. However, it also raises the possibility that individuals with high incomes and advanced education are turning to brokerage services due to difficulties finding compatible partners,” he said.

He also pointed out the remarkably short duration between the initial meeting and a couple getting married.

The report reveals that the time between the initial meeting and the wedding averages just 9.3 days. While this duration may not seem long, it marks a significant increase from six years ago, up from 5.7 days in 2020 and 4.4 days in 2017.

This has prompted criticism that the international marriage brokerage system fosters an environment reminiscent of transactional marriages.

“Considering the declining marriage and low birthrates in Korea, marrying through these systems may not necessarily be viewed negatively in the broader context,” Cho said.

“However, it is necessary to monitor whether there are genuine improvements in the international marriage brokerage process.”

The ministry is actively working to mitigate potential harm to clients of international marriage brokerage services. Additionally, they are implementing policies aimed at addressing the challenges faced by marriage immigrants upon their arrival in Korea.

“We are increasing programs designed to enhance the economic independence of marriage immigrants, facilitating their integration into Korean society from their initial arrival to long-term settlement,” said an official from the gender ministry.

“The ministry is also expanding projects to provide fundamental education and career guidance, facilitating the smooth adaptation of children from multicultural families to school life.”