Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Gibberish]

Confucianism, societal conformity, proving you're straight... I've heard so many different reasons as to why Koreans crave marriage like there's no tomorrow, but I've never been able to figure out why. I read the "hilarious things Korean women have said to you" and someone posted a woman saying that her acne would get cleared up if she got married, which just blows my mind. It's like getting married is like being reborn over here, you figure they would dunk people in the Han river, it's so important.

I figure I would ask for any ideas or reasoning on this mindset you guys had, or funny stories you might have heard from Koreans regarding the ungodly importance of marriage.

[conrad2]

Pretty much only Anglo culture has many people who are indifferent or hostile to the idea of getting married and raising kids.

[Leslie Cheswyck]

In darwinian terms they've got it right. Who cares if you "develop" as a person?

[Mr. Pink]

One could ask why in the west people aren't in a hurry to get married?

It is unusual for people to have their own apartments before they are married in Korea. Thus, unusual for common law type arrangements. Mommy and daddy aren't going to be too happy to see their little girl go shack up with some guy without being married first.

Hmm isn't that the way it is in Latin America too? There one can say religion sets the norms.

What you might want to wonder is why Korea has an expression such as "honeymoon baby" - and why many women get pregnant during their honeymoons.

(I have wondered, and think the woman was probably a virgin and had no idea about birth control. Plus being a virgin, it being the first time they had sex, they probably shagged like a kid getting a new toy.)

[Dev]

[bassexpander]

[Gibberish]

Okay I see your point about the rest of the world viewing marriage as a positive, I'm just saying it seems that Korea takes it to new levels of obsession. It may be just the media that portrays it, but you can see just about every woman on TV or in print or movies talking about their dream being to get married and have children, and how they can't wait for the days of being a "family". Is this just another example of mass collectivism? It seems like the idea of not having kids or getting married is so abstract that it would offend and boggle the minds of most Koreans.

Despite, however, that many, many Koreans are very unhappy with their marriages, it continues, propagated by what exactly? I just can't wrap m mind around it.

[Leslie Cheswyck]

[Old Gil]

Only Anglo? I　would submit Italy, Russia, Japan and Spain as counter examples.

[redaxe]

Because in Korea, married = you are an adult. You get to have your own apartment, your own car, and most importantly, respect. Before you get married, socially you're still considered just a kid.

Also because Korean women have limited career options beyond...

[littlelisa]

[djsmnc]

I dunno, I've met a good number of twentysomething women that really are in no rush to get married. They get pressured by people almost to the point of feeling ostracized in some cases.

[orosee]

[crossmr]

[Hightop]