"They demanded a TOEIC score above 850 and implicitly required a height of at least 1.8 meters," the 34-year-old recalled.

In 2019, Choi decided to move to Japan, unable to endure the relentless work and low wages in South Korea. Now at a real estate company, Choi notes his income in Japan is comparable to what he would earn in South Korea, but he enjoys respected privacy and rare after-hours messages from his boss. Crucially, he married a Japanese woman—an outcome he believes would be unlikely if he remained in his home country with an average income.

Illustration: SCMP

Choi represents a growing trend: tens of thousands of young Koreans are leaving their homeland. Data from Japan indicates the number of Korean workers there surged to 75,000 in 2024. This migration wave is driven by both employment opportunities and marriage prospects. In 2024, a record 1,176 marriages occurred between Korean men and Japanese women, marking a 40% increase from the previous year.

A primary driver of this trend is financial pressure. In South Korea, men face an implicit expectation to purchase a home before marriage. With average apartment prices in Seoul exceeding 1 billion won (approximately 18 billion dong), this goal is often unattainable for young individuals. Conversely, Japanese culture readily accepts couples renting homes, significantly alleviating financial burdens on men.

The financial independence of Japanese women also proves a significant advantage. Unlike South Korea, where men are often expected to cover most dating expenses, Japanese women are willing to share costs.

Lee Ji-hoon, an employment consultant, suggests that Korean men are finding an "escape route" in Japan. Their diligence, combined with the appeal of Hallyu culture, helps them connect with local women, fostering a sustainable trend of migration and marriage.

Bao Nhien (According to Shueisha Online)