World · East Asia & Pacific · 3 hrs ago
One in four young South Korean couples keep some finances separate
One in four South Korean couples aged 20 to 34 share some finances but keep personal assets separate.
The approach means couples may pool money for living costs while managing other funds individually.
This was the highest share among the age groups studied, compared with 10.7% of married people aged 55 to 69.
Younger respondents were less likely than average to say spouses should fully disclose their assets, and more likely to worry that combining assets could reduce personal independence.
At the same time, 47.6% saw marriage as a way to build wealth, the largest share among the age groups compared.
Many couples are also interested in shared financial products: 48% said they already had one, and 64% said they might add one.
The study recommends financial products that help couples work toward shared goals while keeping some savings and investments separate.
One in four married South Korean households aged 20 to 34 jointly manage only some finances, such as household expenses, while keeping personal assets separate.
The figure was 25%, the highest among the age groups covered and more than twice the 10.7% recorded among married households aged 55 to 69.
A Hana Financial Research Institute report found that younger respondents were more likely than the overall average to feel anxious that combining assets would reduce personal autonomy.
At the same time, 47.6% of respondents aged 20 to 34 viewed marriage as a way to build assets more quickly.
The report linked the approach to young couples’ interest in shared financial goals alongside individual financial independence.
- Who
- Married South Korean households aged 20 to 34.
- What
- One in four said they jointly manage some finances, such as living expenses, while keeping personal assets separate.
- When
- The report was published on November 15, 2026.
- Where
- South Korea.
- Why
- The report said young couples seek shared financial goals while maintaining personal financial independence.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The share of newly married couples who both worked was 59.7%, up 1.5 percentage points from the previous year.
The first survey on positive attitudes toward marriage among people aged 25 to 49 was conducted.
Positive attitudes toward marriage among people aged 25 to 49 stood at 76.4%, while marriage intentions among unmarried adults reached 67.4%.
Hana Financial Research Institute published its report on how couples manage finances.
- Age group
- Married households aged 20 to 34
- Selective financial management
- 25% jointly manage some finances
- Older comparison
- 10.7% among married households aged 55 to 69
- Asset-sharing anxiety
- 42.3% of respondents aged 20 to 34
- Joint financial products
- 48% said they had products managed jointly; 64% intended to add or open such products
What people are saying
20~34세는 배우자와 맞벌이를 통한 소득 창출을 기반으로 하되 공동 자금과 개인 자금을 분리해 관리하는 경향성이 존재한다
여성의 경제활동 확대로 부부 간 소득 기여도가 동등해지면서 공동의 목표 자금과 각자의 투자·소비 자금을 분리해 관리하는 경향이 나타나고 있다