Marriage Incentives Soar in South Korea Amid Depopulation Fears
South Korea is intensifying its efforts to combat its alarmingly low birth rate and the looming threat of regional depopulation. Beyond existing childbirth subsidies, local governments are now rolling out substantial cash incentives for marriage, aiming to cover everything from first dates to engagement and honeymoon expenses. For instance, Busan’s Saha district is offering up to 20 million won (approximately US$14,700) to couples who marry after participating in district-organized matchmaking events, along with additional benefits like 500,000 won for dating and 1 million won for engagement. Other municipalities across the country are implementing similar, or even more generous, initiatives to encourage nuptials.
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This trend extends beyond rural areas, reaching even Seoul, which recorded the lowest fertility rate among Korea’s major cities and provinces last year at 0.58. The capital plans to introduce a one-time 1 million won “marriage starter fund” for newly registered couples starting in October, with Gyeonggi province offering a similar amount to young couples next month. In some regions, like Sunchang county in North Jeolla province, newlyweds can receive 10 million won over four years, provided they reside there for at least one year.
Despite the growing number of these marriage incentive programs, their long-term effectiveness remains uncertain. Jinju city, for example, has distributed 500,000 won to over 4,000 couples since 2021, yet overall marriage rates have not shown significant improvement. Similarly, Jangsu county, which has offered a 10 million won incentive for eight years, has seen marriage rates decline, with only a temporary increase in 2023 and 2024. As one local government official remarked, “Would anyone really get married just to receive a congratulatory payment? Still, doing something is better than doing nothing.”
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Experts are vocal in their skepticism, suggesting these marriage incentives may replicate the shortcomings of past childbirth subsidies, which largely failed to reverse declining birth rates despite significant spending on baby bonuses and childcare support. Professor Hong Suk-chul, an economics professor at Seoul National University, argues that policies should instead focus on creating an environment where work and family can coexist, and housing burdens are eased. He criticizes the current cash-based incentives as being driven by local competition and rushed implementation, leading to a distorted policy landscape that requires restructuring.
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