7 out of 10 'multicultural' marriages in Korea involve foreign wives

What happened: South Korea recorded 21,399 multicultural marriages in 2025, with 71.4 percent involving Korean husbands and foreign wives, according to Ministry of Data and Statistics data. Key numbers: Multicultural marriages fell 0.2 percent to 21,399, or 8.9 percent of all marriages. Why it matters: Multicultural marriages, divorces and births moved against nationwide trends, as total marriages rose 8.1 percent and births climbed 6.7 percent. The ministry partly attributed the marriage decline to fewer naturalized citizens and a base effect after prior growth.

South Korea recorded 21,399 multicultural marriages in 2025, with 71.4 percent involving Korean husbands and foreign wives, according to Ministry of Data and Statistics data.

Multicultural marriages, divorces and births moved against nationwide trends, as total marriages rose 8.1 percent and births climbed 6.7 percent. The ministry partly attributed the marriage decline to fewer naturalized citizens and a base effect after prior growth.