South Korea’s marital landscape is undergoing a sharp generational shift. While the national divorce rate has fallen to its lowest level in nearly three decades, “gray divorce”—the separation of couples aged 60 and older—has surged to an all-time high.
According to data released Thursday by the state-run Statistics Korea, the total number of divorces fell to 88,130 last year, a decrease of 3,021 from the prior year. This marks the sixth consecutive year of decline, bringing the figure to its lowest point since 1996. Government analysts attribute this downward trend to a shrinking population and a delayed ripple effect from the sharp drop in marriages during the pandemic.
However, this broad decline masks a burgeoning trend among the elderly. Divorces involving couples where both partners are at least 60 years old reached 13,743 cases last year, the highest since record-keeping began in 1990. This demographic now accounts for a record 15.6% of all divorces in the country, up significantly from 13.0% in 2023.
Experts point to a combination of increased life expectancy, the growing economic independence of women, and a fundamental shift in cultural values. As the social stigma surrounding divorce fades, older Koreans are increasingly unwilling to remain in unhappy marriages for the sake of tradition.
“In the past, long-married couples felt they had to endure for the sake of family appearances,” said Seol Dong-hoon, a professor of sociology at Jeonbuk National University. “Today, there is a growing preference for personal fulfillment. Furthermore, legal frameworks for asset division now provide the economic foundation for seniors to live independently, and children are generally more supportive of their parents’ choices than they were in the past.”
The data also shows that marriages are ending later in life than ever before. Couples who had been married for 30 years or more represented the largest share of all divorces at 17.7%, surpassing those in the early stages of marriage. Consequently, the average age of divorcees continues to climb, reaching 51.0 for men and 47.7 for women—an increase of approximately four years for both genders compared to a decade ago.
This growing trend of late-life separation suggests that South Korea’s traditional family structure is being recalibrated, as the nation’s older generation increasingly prioritizes the quality of their remaining years over marital longevity.
