'I'll live with Mom': More Koreans reaching age 50 without ever having married

In South Korea, an increasing number of individuals in their 50s and 60s are living without ever having tied the knot, according to data from the Ministry of Data and Statistics. As of August, 934,000 men and women in their 50s had never married, representing 11 percent of the total population within that age group. This figure has tripled compared to the 281,000 recorded 10 years prior. Among those aged 60 and older, the number of unmarried individuals stands at 339,000.

One such woman in her mid-50s lives with her elderly mother, who is now in her 80s. The daughter, too preoccupied with her career to marry, has remained single well past the age of 50. Her mother, despite her age, is disappointed that her daughter hasn't found a spouse but is grateful for the companionship. The mother has limited mobility on one side of her body due to a stroke, but her daughter's presence allows her to venture out more frequently.

Interestingly, the other two children of this woman, a son and a daughter, are married and reside separately. In South Korea, there are currently 1.27 million unmarried individuals in their 50s and 60s. This trend reflects a marked increase from 10 years ago, with the number of unmarried individuals of this age group soaring three times higher, from 281,000 to 934,000.

Additionally, the proportion of unmarried individuals in their 40s also stands at 20 percent. Various factors contribute to this phenomenon, but it's clear that personal circumstances and career aspirations play a significant role in shaping these decisions.