Newlyweds living apart become increasingly common in South Korea
Translated from Korean and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.
At a glance
Analysis
Documents & data
Context piece
- A 2011 housing report forecast rising demand for second homes as couples adopted a living-apart-together arrangement.
- In 2024, 12.2% of South Korean couples married for fewer than five years lived separately.
- The share increased every year from 2021 through 2024.
Living apart together, once described as a future housing trend, has become increasingly visible among South Korean newlyweds. The arrangement involves legally married couples maintaining separate homes.
A 2011 report by the Land and Housing Research Institute predicted that demand for second homes would grow as incomes rose to between $30,000 and $40,000. It identified several possible reasons for couples to live apart, including a desire for independence, an existing residence and different daily routines.
The forecast now appears in South Korean household data. In 2024, 12.2% of newlywed couples, defined as those married for fewer than five years, lived separately. That amounted to roughly one in eight couples, and the proportion rose each year from 2021 to 2024.
About this summary
Originally published by Dong-A Ilbo in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.
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