The Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs published a study on 14,000 adults aged 12-49 to investigate the trend of single people still having to depend on their families.
The results showed that 49.7% of people in their 30s and 48.8% of people in their 40s (who participated in the survey) were still unmarried and living with their parents.
The reason for this situation is being single and having limited economic conditions.
Many adults in South Korea still choose to live with their families. Photo: The Korea Herald.
Choi Seon Yeong, the lead researcher, said the number of unmarried people in their 30s and 40s who do not live alone is increasing. This makes them still dependent and dependent on their relatives living nearby.
According to the report, 30% of Koreans aged 19-49 currently live with their parents, but when narrowing the survey to "unmarried people", this number rises to 62.4%.
They are collectively known as the "Kangaroo tribe" - a term used to describe children who are financially and emotionally dependent on their parents even when they are old enough to be independent.
Experts warn that the "kangaroo generation" is not only damaging households but also the country's economy.
“The cost of providing for this generation will become increasingly greater as they get older and their parents retire. Eventually, the government will have to support them and literally help them survive,” said Jeon Young-soo, a professor at Hanyang University’s Graduate School of International Studies.
Mr. Jeon believes that parents should stop financially supporting their adult children.
“These kids will need to find any way they can to survive regardless of the economic challenges they face,” he said.
Elderly South Koreans are increasingly spending more time and money on their children and grandchildren. Photo: Shutterstock
Meanwhile, data released by Shinhan Card shows that more and more grandparents in South Korea are spending time and saving money for their grandchildren, as high inflation and a shrinking population make it harder for parents to care for their children on their own.
It is the protective mentality of parents that has fueled this trend. Song Jung-hyun (36) and Nang Yoon-jin (33) are both middle school teachers in Seoul. They are financially independent and can afford to live on their own, but their parents believe that women should only move out when they get married.
Ms. Song believes that for many people, living with family is torture, but she is satisfied when she sees the practical benefits. Her mother still cooks breakfast for her and pays for all living expenses. Not much has changed since her student days, except that she has a job and can save money. Not only that, her parents also clean her bedroom, do her laundry, and give her direct advice.
"On the contrary, when my parents get old, I can take care of them more easily. They also often say they can't imagine living without me, " Song said.
Financially independent teacher Song Jung-hyun, 36, declares "living with parents is happiness"
According to the Korea Institute of Child Care & Education, the number of parents providing financial support to their adult children has been steadily increasing over the decades. In recent years, under the influence of Covid-19, the number of members of the "Kangaroo Tribe" has increased to the peak.
Korean mass media expressed concern about the situation of "living off parents". They published many articles, pictures, and clips of tired, worried elderly parents and their indifferent, lazy grown-up children.
“It’s extremely difficult to be economically and residentially independent these days, ” explains Lee Chul-hee, a professor at Seoul National University. “Since 2000, housing prices have been rising steadily across Korea, especially in major cities. On the other hand, the job market is unstable and incomes have not increased much. This creates numerous obstacles for people in their 30s and 40s, making it difficult to move out and live on their own.”
Source: https://giadinh.suckhoedoisong.vn/con-40-tuoi-van-y-lai-an-bam-khong-the-tu-lap-vi-duoc-cha-me-gia-bao-boc-17224081415562702.htm
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