In South Korea, "divorce after sunset" has surpassed "divorce during the honeymoon" in frequency. The aging population is reshaping the landscape of marriage

The "evening divorce" phenomenon in South Korea is continuing to intensify. A survey by the Statistics Agency of South Korea shows that the number of divorces among couples who have been married for over 30 years last year exceeded that of "newlywed divorces" for the first time since relevant statistics began in 1990. Analysts believe that under the influence of factors such as an increase in the aging population, an increase in the number of middle-aged and elderly people, and a decrease in the number of young marriage-age individuals, the divorce structure in South Korea is undergoing significant changes.

According to the data released by the Statistics Korea, the number of divorces among couples who had been married for over 30 years reached 15,628 last year, which was 1,236 more than the 14,392 "newlywed divorces" within five years of marriage. The number of "midlife divorces" has increased for two consecutive years, while the number of "newlywed divorces" has decreased for six consecutive years since 2020.

In 1990, the situation was completely different. That year, there were 18,053 cases of "new marriage followed by divorce", which was 49 times the number of "midlife divorce" at 368. After entering the 21st century, there was a consistent gap of 26,000 to 35,000 cases between the two, but this gap has narrowed rapidly in recent years. In 2018, the gap between the two first dropped below 10,000 cases, reaching 114 in 2024, and last year, there was a reversal for the first time.

At the same time, the demand for divorce counseling among the elderly has also significantly increased. Data released by the Korean Family Legal Counseling Center in February this year shows that among the 4,013 divorce counseling cases involving women last year, those of individuals over 60 accounted for 22.1%, which is nearly four times the 5.8% in 2005.

Experts believe that the demographic changes are the core background driving the increase in "midlife divorce". According to data from the Statistics Agency of South Korea, the proportion of the population aged 50 and above reached 45.1% last year, nearly doubling compared to 23.7% 20 years ago; the proportion of the population aged 20 to 30 decreased from 33.8% to 25.4%. Under the influence of the "population cliff", the number of young newly married couples has decreased, while the number of long-term married couples has increased, and the overall divorce pattern has also changed.

The analysis suggests that changes in social concepts are also a significant factor. In the past, traditional beliefs such as "marriage is maintained for the sake of the children" or "it's unnecessary to divorce when one gets old" gradually weakened. More and more middle-aged and elderly people began to prioritize the quality of life in their later years and personal happiness. Especially for the female group, they tend to value their own life satisfaction and the meaning of life rather than external opinions.

Furthermore, as the number of highly educated and financially capable women increases, the acceptance of independent living after divorce among the middle-aged and elderly population has significantly improved; the increase in men's participation in household chores has also reduced the burden of life after divorce.

Interestingly, the continuously rising housing prices are also believed to have contributed to the increase in "midlife divorces".

The analysis indicates that the appreciation of real estate has increased the benefits from property division, alleviating the economic anxiety of some people after divorce. Another viewpoint holds that some middle-aged and elderly couples who own expensive properties might choose "formal divorce" for reasons such as reducing tax burdens, which has also contributed to the increase in the statistics to a certain extent.