South Korea’s gender imbalance is bad news for men – outnumbering women, many face bleak marriage prospects
Following a historic 30-year-long imbalance in the male-to-female sex ratio at birth, South Korea is now facing a significant gender disparity. This situation is set to have far-reaching effects on the country’s population, with an estimated 700,000 to 800,000 extra South Korean boys born since the mid-1980s now struggling to find South Korean girls to marry.
The imbalance in the sex ratio at birth (SRB) is a natural occurrence, with most countries typically having more boys born than girls. This is an evolutionary adaptation due to the fact that females tend to live longer than males. The SRB of around 105 to 107 boys per 100 girls helps maintain a relatively equal number of men and women when they reach childbearing age.
In the United States, the SRB has remained stable at 105 for decades. However, South Korea’s SRB was within the normal range until the 1980s when it started to increase. By 1990, the SRB had reached 115, significantly higher than the biologically normal range. This imbalance continued until around 2010 when it finally returned to the normal level of 105.
The imbalance can be attributed to South Korea’s cultural preference for sons, which persisted even as fertility rates declined. The country experienced a rapid decline in fertility from six children per woman in 1960 to 0.82 in 2022, the lowest fertility rate in the world. However, the desire for at least one son remained strong, leading many families to resort to techniques to determine the gender of the fetus and, if necessary, selective abortion to ensure having a male child.
As a result of the imbalanced sex ratio, there are now a significant number of men in South Korea who are unable to find marriage partners. This has already had an impact on the institution of marriage, with a decline in the percentage of young South Koreans intending to get married. In 2023, only 36% of South Koreans between the ages of 19 and 34 expressed a desire to marry, compared to over 56% in 2012.
To address this imbalance, the South Korean government has supported the immigration of foreign-born women, including Korean women from northeastern China and women from less wealthy countries such as Vietnam, the Philippines, and Eastern European countries. However, if these extra bachelors do not marry immigrant brides, they may be forced to create their own lives and livelihoods. Some might even form bachelor ghettos in major cities like Seoul, Busan, and Daegu, where commercial sex outlets are more prevalent.
The consequences of South Korea’s imbalanced sex ratio are a result of the country’s successful efforts to reduce fertility rates. While the desire for sons has diminished, the long-term social issues stemming from the gender imbalance, especially in the marriage market, are likely to persist for decades.
As South Korea grapples with this situation, it is important to consider the broader implications and potential solutions to address the challenges faced by these young men. While the imbalance has complex societal consequences, it is crucial to navigate the issue with empathy and understanding, seeking to ensure social well-being and gender equality in the pursuit of a more balanced and inclusive future.
