S. Korea's marriage rate plunges amid recession: report

SEOUL, Jan. 25 (Yonhap) -- The number of weddings fell and divorces were up in
South Korea last year the global recession strained checkbooks and relationships,
a report showed Monday.

The report by Statistics Korea adds to growing fears about the country's sinking
birthrate. As more young people delay marriage and couples have fewer children,
South Korea is rapidly becoming an aged society.
The number of new marriages between January and November last year was about
273,600 -- 5.4 percent lower than the same period in 2008, which also recorded a
4.6 percent fall from the year prior, according to the report.
Meanwhile the number of divorces rose 9.5 percent to 115,800 during the first 11
months of last year, the report said.
"Rifts over money during an economic crisis often lead to the delay or breakdown
of marriages," the national statistical office said.
The number of babies born between January-November was down 4.0 percent to 414,100.
Around 38,200 babies were born in September last year, the report said, down 4.7
percent on-year. The number has been falling since March 2008.
ygkim@yna.co.kr
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