Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Nomadder]

I don't get it. Anything you want from a relationship can be attained without legally binding your existence to that of another human being.

Sex? If this is the case then either your own desperation, or your religion is driving you to this. I won't comment in either case.

Love? If you want to be with someone then be with them. Why write up a contract about it to punish each other if you have a fallling out further down the road?

Financial reasons? Hm... This seems to be the most valid reason. (not saying its a good one...) Whether its your stereotypical gold digger, or someone who wants a better visa or citzenship in another country.

Other "security" concerns? If this is the case then maybe you should endeavor to figure out how to overcome your fears/security reasons on your own rather than cast your fate with someone else. (Whether its "I need someone to take care of me" or "I'm afraid to be alone".)

Biology? The need to get and rear offspring? Again, do we need a contract for this? Perhaps some see this as a means of insuring against single parenting? Maybe the marriage contract is seen as making it more difficult for one partner to leave the other to raise the child(ren) by ones self? That may seem a little calculating, but perhaps it's not as deliberate as that...

Just to make it clear I'm not anti-relationship. I'm not even anti-long-term relationship.
(Also, hopefully it is immediately obvious that this post isn't directed specifically at either sex.)

I just don't understand why people have allowed themselves to become so conditioned, as to automatically equate love with what is essentially a legal document. It seems somewhat perverse to me.

I'm interested in reading posts from all sorts. Whether you've sworn off marriage (something I haven't done... who knows...), are married, or are planning on getting married...

Why?

What does marriage mean to you?

[Bearach]

I'll never get married, but if someone else does, it doesn't particularly bother me.

[curlygirl]

Seconded. Bearach, assuming you're a guy, wanna not get married to me?

[dmbfan]

[Bearach]

[dmbfan]

[nautilus]

I kind of agree with the OP.

most single koreans i know are desperately trying to get married. most married people wish they were single. its stupid.

However the best reason for legally binding marriage I can think of is: it provides a secure framework for the children to grow up in.
kids need the committed attention of both parents.

[crescent]

The reasons are all financial. It's been that way since the days of arranged marriages.
Money.

Only now, instead of merging two estates, we get a plethora of tax breaks, reduced insurance rates, and lower loan interest.

In Korea, we get more employment freedom.

[nicholas_chiasson]

if marriage is all about money why do the poor get married? they used to. In fact women have married men who could barely provide for themselves.

[nautilus]

[crescent]

[Stormy]

It keeps marriage celebrants employed.

[peppermint]

I don't really get the big marriage ceremony thing, but getting married provides lots of legal rights too. Stuff like being able to adopt children, ability to have a say in treatment if one partner were very ill etc

[tigerbluekitty]

I think marriage is for the sake of children.

Really sick of hearing stories of men who run off leaving women to take care of and provide for children themselves.

[nobbyken]

As a single guy I always felt incomplete, something missing.
I felt I had another half so when we met it was a natural progression to marriage.


Genesis 2:18
The LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him."