Educated, affluent Koreans turn to international marriage 고학력부자한국인 국제결혼 관심

[김우정]

고학력의 부유한 한국인들이 국제결혼에 대한 관심이 높아졌습니다.
과거에는 국제결혼이 시골 노총각과 20대 젊은 외국 신부사이의 결혼이 대부분이었습니다.
이제는 도시의 중산층 고학력자들도 국제결혼에 관심을 보이고 있습니다.
그러나 첫만남부터 결혼까지 소요기간이 평균 9.3일인 점은 문제입니다.
 

Highly educated, affluent Koreans turn to international marriage brokers
고등교육을 받은 부유한 한국인들, 국제결혼 중매인들로 전환

 
By Jung Da-hyun 정다현 기자
Posted : 2024-05-26 15:40 Updated : 2024-05-26 15:43
Korea Times

gettyimagesbank 게티이미지뱅크

Rapid weddings raise questions as brokered couples wed in less than 10 days on average
평균 10일 이내에 결혼식을 올린 중매부부의 빠른 결혼식에 궁금증

More than half of individuals using international marriage brokerage services in Korea are college graduates, and one in three earns a high income, with monthly earnings exceeding 4 million won ($2,924).
국내에서 국제결혼중개서비스를 이용하는 개인의 절반 이상이 대졸자이며, 3명 중 1명은 고소득을 올려 월 소득이 400만원(2,924달러)을 넘는 것으로 나타났다.

International marriage brokerages in Korea, once predominantly used by men with lower educational backgrounds and incomes, are now experiencing a shift in perceptions and trends. However, some still criticize the process facilitated by intermediaries as unnatural, citing concerns about the typically brief duration from the initial meeting to marriage.
한때 학력과 소득이 낮은 남성들에 의해 주로 사용되었던 한국의 국제 결혼 중개업자들은 이제 인식과 경향에 있어서 변화를 경험하고 있다. 그러나 일부 사람들은 여전히 중개인들에 의해 촉진된 과정이 부자연스럽다고 비판하며, 보통 초기 만남에서 결혼까지의 짧은 기간에 대한 우려를 말한다.

According to the 2023 marriage brokerage survey released by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, Thursday, 50.6 percent of international marriage brokerage clients hold a university degree or higher, surpassing the 49.4 percent with an education level below high school for the first time since the annual survey began in 2014.
여성가족부가 20일 발표한 '2023년 결혼중개업 실태조사'에 따르면 국제결혼중개업 고객의 50.6%가 대졸 이상으로 2014년 연간 조사가 시작된 이후 처음으로 고졸 이하 학력 49.4%를 넘어섰다.

In 2014, clients with an education level below high school made up a significant 70.2 percent. The academic background of both Korean clients and their foreign brides has seen a notable shift, with those holding a university degree or higher increasing from 12 percent in 2014 to 26 percent in 2023.
2014년에 고등학교 이하의 학력을 가진 고객은 70.2%를 차지했다. 한국인 고객과 외국인 신부의 학력 모두 주목할 만한 변화가 있었는데, 대학 학위 이상을 가진 고객은 2014년 12%에서 2023년 26%로 증가했다.

Income levels have also changed dramatically. The highest average monthly income category for international marriage brokerage clients is now more than 4 million won, comprising 34.8 percent of clients.
소득수준도 크게 달라졌다. 현재 외국인 결혼중개 의뢰인의 월평균 소득 상위 항목은 400만원 이상으로 의뢰인의 34.8%를 차지한다.

This is followed by 29.1 percent earning 3 million won to 3.99 million won, 28.9 percent earning 2 million won to 2.99 million won and 7.2 percent earning less than 1.99 million won. In 2014, only 11.3 percent of clients earned more than 4 million won monthly, indicating a significant income increase over nine years.
이어 300만~399만원 소득이 29.1%, 200만~299만원 소득이 28.9%, 199만원 이하 소득이 7.2%로 뒤를 이었다. 2014년에는 월 400만원 이상 소득을 올린 고객이 11.3%에 그쳐 9년간 소득이 크게 증가한 것으로 나타났다.

Age demographics show that 86.5 percent of Korean clients are aged 40 or older, seeing a continuous rise since the first survey.
연령 인구 통계에 따르면 한국 고객의 86.5%가 40세 이상으로 첫 조사 이후 지속적으로 증가하고 있다.

Meanwhile, the majority of foreign spouses were in their 20s, comprising 60.6 percent. But this percentage has been decreasing since 2017, while those aged 30 or older have been increasing, now making up 39.4 percent.
한편, 외국인 배우자의 대다수는 20대로 60.6퍼센트를 차지했다. 그러나 이 비율은 2017년 이후 감소하고 있는 반면, 30세 이상은 증가하고 있어 현재 39.4퍼센트를 차지하고 있다.

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Experts attribute the changing trend in international marriage to shifts in Korean society's population structure.
전문가들은 국제결혼의 변화 추세를 한국 사회의 인구구조 변화 때문으로 보고 있다.

In the past, international marriages in Korea were often characterized as marriages between older rural bachelors and young foreign women in their 20s. However, with rural residents now comprising less than 10 percent of the total population of Korea, such marriages have become less common.
과거에, 한국의 국제 결혼은 종종 나이가 많은 시골 총각과 20대의 젊은 외국인 여성 사이의 결혼으로 특징지어졌다. 그러나, 시골 거주자들이 이제 한국의 총 인구의 10% 미만으로 구성됨에 따라, 그러한 결혼은 흔하지 않다.

"The demographic using international marriage brokerage firms has shifted from rural to urban centers," said Seol Dong-hoon, a professor of sociology at Jeonbuk National University.
설동훈 전북대 사회학과 교수는 "국제결혼중개업체를 이용하는 인구구조가 농촌에서 도심으로 이동했다,"고 말했다.

The gender ministry also said that there has been a rise in the number of people using international marriage brokerage services, with about 40.4 percent of clients now residing in major metropolitan areas such as Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi Province.
여성부는 또한 국제결혼 중개 서비스를 이용하는 사람들의 수가 증가하고 있으며, 현재 약 40.4%의 고객들이 서울, 인천 및 경기도와 같은 주요 대도시 지역에 거주하고 있다고 말했다.

"Previously, international marriage was pursued mainly by the low-income class, but now the middle class is also contemplating it," Seol said.
설교수는 "이전에는 저소득층 위주로 국제결혼을 추진했지만 이제는 중산층도 고민하고 있다,"고 말했다.

He also highlighted as a contributing factor the surge in university enrollment rates during the 1990s, with over 70 percent of students now pursuing higher education.
그는 또한 1990년대에 대학 등록률이 급증하여 현재 70%가 넘는 학생들이 고등교육을 받았다는 것을 기여 요인으로 강조했다.

The education level of the foreign brides has risen as well.
외국인 신부들의 교육 수준도 높아졌다.

"In the past, rural bachelors would opt for less-educated partners, fearing that a highly educated spouse might eventually leave them. However, with the shift in client demographics, this concern has diminished," he explained.
"과거에는, 시골 총각들이 고학력 배우자가 결국 그들을 떠날까 봐, 덜 교육받은 파트너를 선택하곤 했다. 그러나, 고객 인구통계의 변화와 함께, 이러한 우려는 감소했다,"라고 그는 설명했다.

However, Cho Jung-hyun, a professor from the international law department at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, highlighted persistent concerns regarding the fundamental issues surrounding international marriage brokerage.
그러나 조정현 한국외대 국제법학과 교수는 국제결혼 중개를 둘러싼 근본적인 문제에 대해 지속적인 우려를 표명했다.

Cho raised questions about whether the report's findings indicate an apparent positive societal trend in international marriages due to the brokerage system among the highly educated and affluent.
조 교수는 이 보고서의 결과가 고학력자와 부유층의 중개시스템으로 인한 국제결혼의 긍정적인 사회적 경향을 보여주는 것인지에 대해 의문을 제기했다.

"The report suggests a positive shift away from the traditional stereotype of international marriages between elderly rural bachelors and young foreign women. However, it also raises the possibility that individuals with high incomes and advanced education are turning to brokerage services due to difficulties finding compatible partners," he said.
그는 "이 보고서는 고령의 농촌총각과 젊은 외국인 여성 사이의 국제결혼에 대한 전통적인 고정관념에서 벗어나 긍정적인 전환을 제안한다며 "그러나 소득이 높고 교육이 발달한 개인들이 양립할 수 있는 파트너를 찾는 데 어려움을 겪으면서 중개 서비스로 눈을 돌리고 있을 가능성도 제기한다,"고 말했다.

He also pointed out the remarkably short duration between the initial meeting and a couple getting married.
그는 또 첫 만남부터 결혼까지의 기간이 현저히 짧다는 점을 지적했다.

The report reveals that the time between the initial meeting and the wedding averages just 9.3 days. While this duration may not seem long, it marks a significant increase from six years ago, up from 5.7 days in 2020 and 4.4 days in 2017.
그 보고서는 최초의 만남과 결혼 사이의 시간이 단지 평균 9.3일이라고 밝혔습니다. 이 기간이 길지 않아 보일 수 있지만, 2020년의 5.7일과 2017년의 4.4일에 비해 6년 전에 비해 크게 증가했다.

This has prompted criticism that the international marriage brokerage system fosters an environment reminiscent of transactional marriages.
이로 인해 국제결혼중개제도가 거래결혼을 연상시키는 환경을 조성한다는 비판이 제기되고 있다.

"Considering the declining marriage and low birthrates in Korea, marrying through these systems may not necessarily be viewed negatively in the broader context," Cho said.
한국의 결혼 감소와 저출산을 고려할 때, 이러한 제도들을 통해 결혼하는 것이 넓은 맥락에서 반드시 부정적으로 볼 수는 없다"고 조 교수는 말했다.

"However, it is necessary to monitor whether there are genuine improvements in the international marriage brokerage process."
다만 국제결혼중개 절차에 진정한 개선이 있는지는 모니터링할 필요가 있다"고 말했다.


The ministry is actively working to mitigate potential harm to clients of international marriage brokerage services. Additionally, they are implementing policies aimed at addressing the challenges faced by marriage immigrants upon their arrival in Korea.
여성가족부는 국제결혼 중개 서비스 고객의 잠재적인 피해를 줄이기 위해 적극적으로 노력하고 있다. 그들은 또한 결혼 이민자들이 한국에 도착했을 때 직면하는 어려움을 해결하기 위한 정책을 시행하고 있다.

"We are increasing programs designed to enhance the economic independence of marriage immigrants, facilitating their integration into Korean society from their initial arrival to long-term settlement," said an official from the gender ministry.
"우리는 결혼 이민자들의 경제적인 독립성을 증진시키기 위해 계획된 프로그램들을 늘리고 있으며, 그들의 초기 도착부터 장기적인 정착까지 그들의 한국 사회로의 통합을 촉진하고 있다," 라고 여성부의 한 관계자가 말했다.

"The ministry is also expanding projects to provide fundamental education and career guidance, facilitating the smooth adaptation of children from multicultural families to school life."
"교육부는 또한 다문화 가정의 아이들이 학교 생활에 원활하게 적응할 수 있도록 기본적인 교육과 진로 지도를 제공하는 사업을 확대하고 있다."

#Internationalmarriagebrokerage국제결혼중개 #Highlyeducated고등교육을받은  #Affluent부유한 #Rapidweddings빠른결혼식 #Demographicshift인구구조변화 #Ruraltourbanmigration농촌에서도심으로이동 #Middleclass중산층 #Economicindependence경제적 독립성 #Multiculturalfamilies다문화가정 #Career guidance진로지도