Korean Job Discussion Forums

Real Reality · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Location: Seoul

Is the Ministry of Gender Equality petitioning for equal costs in wedding-related expenses?

Marriage Costs Koreans an Arm and a Leg
Newlyweds spent an average of W130 million (US$130,000) on wedding-related expenses last year, of which the grooms spent an average of W96 million while the brides put up around W33 million.... The biggest portion of the expense, two-thirds, was spent in obtaining a new home (W85 million), followed by the wedding ceremony itself (W10.25 million), gifts for the groom's family and relatives (W8.4 million), wedding gifts exchanged between the groom and bride (W7.18 million),...
Chosun Ilbo (February 23, 2006)
http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200602/200602230027.html

Women taking lead in filing for divorce
Two thirds of divorces and separations among Korea's married couples are instigated by women according to a report issued yesterday by the National Statistical Office.
JoongAng Daily (July 01, 2005)
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/200506/30/200506302309010009900090409041.html

VanIslander · Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2006 5:24 pm Post subject:

The contributions seem to be almost equal once the man's provision of the housing is factored out of the equation!

As for women leading the way to divorce: What else do you expect in a culture that is raising its women to become very educated yet expect them to still be secondary to men in the family, in the home and in career decisions along Confucian lines and put up with their husbands frequenting room salons or other means of extramarital sex.

Real Reality · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Location: Seoul

VanIslander · Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2006 6:02 pm Post subject:

Real Reality · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Location: Seoul

billybrobby · Joined: 09 Dec 2004

Real Reality · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Location: Seoul

blunder1983 · Joined: 12 Apr 2005

I asked a coteacher about the numbers of men and women in school. Her response was that school is a good job for a woman, in the office environment their is minimal job security for older women as new younger women apply for jobs. She said she chose school so she'd have a job until retirement.

HamuHamu · Joined: 01 May 2003 Location: Seoul

The fact that an average of 10million is being spent on a Korean-style wedding ceremony is the part that I find to be absurd.

Actually, the fact that the groom's parents get gifts worth and average of 8 million won -- I can't be understanding that correctly! Should it not be the bride and groom who are getting gifts?!

And, spending an average of 7million on gifts for EACH OTHER! Come on.......!!!!!!!!

Swiss James · Joined: 26 Nov 2003 Location: Shanghai

Manner of Speaking · Joined: 09 Jan 2003

Manner of Speaking · Joined: 09 Jan 2003

spliff · Joined: 19 Jan 2004 Location: Khon Kaen, Thailand

What a load of crap...including housing in the cost of a wedding. If I were Korean I'd get married and then go to a short-time hotel, then I would brag to all by buds about how much dosh I saved on my wedding.

Manner of Speaking · Joined: 09 Jan 2003

Yes, but that's how Koreans define the cost of a wedding. For them, "wedding costs" include the cost of setting up a completely new household.

Unless I'm mistaken, the bride is responsible for paying for all the new furniture. As a westerner, I don't think you "need" new furniture to get married...but most Koreans do think so.

Cheonmunka · Joined: 04 Jun 2004

In the Korean version (AM7 �Ź�) it also shows how couples take out loans together, so I think that the bloke does not necessarily save nor bear all this before marriage.
Instead, it seems that couples may include this arrangement in the 'marriage expenses', and rather these costs can easily be considered post-marriage, with setting out the loan conditions only at the time of marriage.