South Korea's Young Couples Rush to Marry for Mortgage Benefits

Rising home prices and costly jeonse rentals are prompting many South Korean millennials to marry early in order to qualify for joint‑income mortgage loans and housing subsidies. A 30‑year‑old office worker, Do, registered her marriage months before the wedding so that her combined household income allowed her to secure a 600 million‑won loan for a Seoul apartment, a figure far above the 350 million won she could have obtained on her own. Another office employee, Kim, married to meet the eligibility criteria for her company's jeonse loan program, noting that finding a suitable rental without a marriage‑linked subsidy is nearly impossible.

The financial incentive is also influencing marital stability. Kwon, a 35‑year‑old office worker, says she remains in a five‑year marriage because divorce would force the division of the jointly‑owned home, leaving both parties financially vulnerable. These cases illustrate how marriage in South Korea is increasingly viewed as a strategic tool for home ownership, while also creating a new barrier to divorce.