Society Korean men flock to Japan to find Japanese brides

"In Korea, it's expected that the man provides the home when getting married," Ha explained. "Without taking out a loan, it could take until I'm 40 to afford a house." Although he hopes to marry while still in his 30s and settle down in South Korea, Ha believes that Japanese women place less financial pressure on men compared to Korean women. That belief prompted him to seek a partner in Japan instead. Marriage agencies in Japan that specialize in matching Korean men with Japanese women are seeing a surge in demand. At one such agency, over 8,000 applications from Korean men have been submitted, according to its director, Hong Daeeui. The agency attributes the trend to the financial burden placed on men by Korean marriage customs, particularly the expectation to provide housing. Japanese women are showing a growing openness to marrying Korean men. One woman who participated in a matchmaking event said, "From dramas and other shows, Korean men seem very capable and almost perfect." Experts say that many Japanese women, especially in the younger generation, have grown up immersed in Korean media and culture, leading to positive impressions of Korean men.

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