The Ministry of Data and Statistics announced on Thursday that the number of multicultural marriages in South Korea reached its highest level since before the COVID-19 pandemic, signaling a significant recovery in this sector. Last year, 21,450 multicultural marriages were recorded, reflecting an increase of 1,019, or 5 percent, compared to the previous year. This rise is attributed to a renewed demand for international marriages that had waned during the pandemic, alongside enhanced government support for multicultural families.
The trend of multicultural marriages has been on a gradual increase since 2016, peaking at 24,721 in 2019 before plummeting to 16,177 in 2020 due to the pandemic’s disruptions. Following a further decline to 13,916 in 2021, the numbers have since rebounded, exceeding 20,000 in 2023. A ministry official noted that the resurgence is likely driven by a combination of suppressed international marriage demand during the pandemic and improved residency stability for foreign workers in Korea.
In contrast to the rise in multicultural marriages, the overall marriage rate in South Korea increased by 14.8 percent year-on-year, reaching 222,000 in 2024. This broader increase outpaced the growth in multicultural marriages, resulting in a decrease of 1 percentage point in the share of multicultural marriages relative to total marriages, which now stands at 9.6 percent.
When examining the types of multicultural marriages, it was noted that marriages between Korean men and foreign women made up 71.2 percent, while marriages involving Korean women and foreign men accounted for 18.2 percent. Marriages where either spouse is a naturalized citizen constituted 10.6 percent. Among foreign wives, Vietnamese women represented the largest demographic at 26.8 percent, followed by Chinese at 15.9 percent and Thai at 10 percent.
In tandem with the rise in multicultural marriages, the number of births from multicultural parents also saw a notable increase. In 2024, the count rose to 13,416, an increase of 1,266, or 10.4 percent, compared to the previous year. This marked the first rise in multicultural births in 12 years, showcasing the sharpest growth since 2011. As the share of multicultural newborns rose to 5.6 percent, this growth significantly outpaced the nationwide birth rate increase of just 3.6 percent.
Officials attribute this upward trend in multicultural births to the stability of multicultural families and the government’s initiatives aimed at supporting them. This renewed growth serves as a hopeful indicator of increased family support and integration in South Korea’s multicultural landscape, fostering diversity and unity within the nation.