By Jason Lim
According to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, Korea has officially become a super-aged society with 20 percent of its population aged 65 or older. If the current trend continues, Korea could have the highest proportion of older adults in the world by 2045, with 37.3 percent of its population over 65. This demographic trend isn’t changing any time soon since Korea also suffers from the lowest birthrate in the world with 0.72 births per woman in 2023, far below the population replacement rate of 2.1.
Another interesting metric to note in Korea’s whirling demographic trends is the out-of-wedlock birthrate, which hit a historical high of 4.7 percent in 2023. However, compare this to the average rate of out-of-wedlock births in OECD countries, which is 42 percent. In short, it’s possible to infer that women in Korea are not having babies because they are not getting married.
Numbers bear this out. In 2023, Korea recorded one of the lowest numbers of marriages since 1981, with only 193,657 couples getting married. The trend of shunning marriage has been particularly noticeable in recent years, with the number of marriages drastically decreasing by over 40 percent compared to 10 years ago.
A seemingly unrelated trend is the gender bifurcation of the Gen Zers participating in the recent political protests against President Yoon Suk Yeol over his short-lived imposition of martial law that has now plunged Korea into a political morass. Many have observed that the most visible protest group are women in their 20s and 30s, waving their K-pop light sticks and, ironically, singing along to “Into the New World” by the Girls' Generation. The girls have certainly come of age. In contrast, young men seem to be missing in action, especially compared to the leading role that men have taken in Korea’s long history of political activism.
This polarization is not surprising. It’s a continuation of the last presidential election. With skyrocketing housing prices, a fiercely competitive job market and stagnant wages, both genders face significant challenges in achieving financial stability. However, the way these pressures manifest differs markedly. For Gen Z women, economic insecurity often intersects with systemic gender discrimination. Women in South Korea still earn significantly less than their male counterparts, with the country consistently ranking at the bottom in gender pay equity among OECD nations. Sexual harassment and a lack of opportunities for career advancement further exacerbate these challenges. As a result, young women increasingly view feminist activism as essential not only for achieving equality but also for securing a fair shot at economic stability.
For Gen Z men, economic insecurity is often framed through a lens of perceived competition. Many young men believe they are unfairly burdened by societal expectations, such as mandatory military service, while women, in their view, benefit from policies designed to level the playing field. This perception of “reverse discrimination” has fueled resentment and driven some young men to oppose feminist movements, which they see as contributing to their own loss of status and security.
Social media and online forums amplify the gender divide, serving as both platforms for activism and arenas for conflict. Feminist campaigns like #MeToo and #DontBuyMyLabor, which encourage women to withdraw from unpaid emotional and domestic labor, have gained significant traction online. Activists use platforms like Instagram and social platform X to organize protests, share stories and build solidarity.
On the other hand, young men dominate male-centric forums like Ilbe and DC Inside, where discussions often spiral into hostility toward feminism. These online spaces are fertile ground for the spread of antifeminist rhetoric and misinformation, which fuels the backlash against feminist movements. The anonymity of these platforms allows users to express grievances and frustrations that might not be socially acceptable in public, further entrenching the divide.
Coming back to the marriage and birth issue again, it’s pretty apparent that the primary underlying cause of the low marriage rate and birthrate is not just the high costs of housing and raising children. It’s a sociopolitical chasm that has opened up between men and women of marrying age. They see the world in fundamentally different ways, both feeling victimized and aggrieved by each other. No wonder they are choosing to not get married. They can barely stand each other.
Money doesn’t work. Since 2021, the government has spent $270 billion to fund its plan for an aging society and population to raise the birthrate, to no avail. A fundamentally new leadership is required. The gender divide in Gen Z activism in Korea is symptomatic of deep-seated tensions within a rapidly changing society. While young women fight against systemic discrimination and patriarchal norms, young men grapple with feelings of alienation and unfairness in a society that seems to overlook their struggles. Bridging this divide requires empathy, dialogue and a shift toward more inclusive activism that addresses the shared challenges of a generation. Only then can Korea move toward a more equitable and united future.
And have more babies.
Jason Lim ([email protected]) is a Washington-based expert on innovation, leadership and organizational culture. The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not reflect The Korea Times’ editorial stance.
English (United States) ·