46.7 Per Cent of Married Couples `Thought of Divorce`

Survey results, which indicate that half of Korea’s married couples have thought about divorce, was published.

According to the Korean Women’s Development Institute`s statements on the 24th, 46.7 percent of 7074 married respondents to the family life survey, which was done on 10,400 households in 16 major cities and provinces, answered they `have thought about divorce at least once`.

According to degrees of divorce consideration (out of 4 points), women (2.62 points) scored higher than men (2.41 points). In terms of age, people in their 40s (2.66 points) were at the most serious divorce crisis.

Reasons for divorce were rated with `disparity in character` (40.2%) at the top, △ economic troubles (28.8%) △ spouse’s drinking problems (14.1%) △ spouse’s dishonesty (5.2%) △ lack of time with the family (3.8%)

In satisfaction rate about family life (out of 5 points), people in their 20s (3.74 points) were the highest, and it decreased along with age increase, reaching the lowest in the 70s (2.88 points).

Single men selected `loneliness (24.2%)` as the most difficult matter, and single women chose `economic troubles (39.6%)`.

The number of singles was highest among people in their 30s who cited `career (28.8%)` and `comfort in living alone (19.2%)` as the main reasons, and people in their 40s due to `divorce or separation (38.6%)`, and 50s due to `death of spouses (41.6%)`.

Yong Park parky@donga.com