Divorce rates among elderly couples in South Korea are rising as more spouses seek to split assets after decades of marriage [1].
This trend reflects a shift in how long-term couples view their final years, moving away from traditional endurance of unhappy marriages toward a priority on individual financial independence, and personal autonomy.
Data from 2025 shows that 17.7% [1] of couples who lived together for 30 years or more ended their marriages. This figure represents nearly a two-fold increase compared to statistics from 10 years ago [1].
Legal disputes in these cases, often referred to as "twilight divorces," center primarily on the division of joint property and pensions [2]. The goal for many is to secure a stable financial foundation for their remaining years by splitting these assets equally [2].
"Couples who have been together for a long time are increasingly seeking new lives for themselves, in what is known as 'twilight divorce'," a YTN anchor said [1].
Because pensions and long-term savings are often tied to a single spouse's career, the division of these funds has become the most significant point of conflict in court [2]. The legal system is increasingly tasked with balancing the contributions of homemakers against the primary earner to ensure a fair split of the marital estate [2].
“Divorce rates for couples married over 30 years have nearly doubled in a decade.”
The surge in late-life divorces in South Korea suggests a cultural departure from the Confucian ideal of maintaining a marriage at all costs for the sake of family image. As life expectancy increases, elderly individuals are more likely to prioritize personal happiness over social convention, while the legal focus on splitting pensions highlights the evolving recognition of non-monetary contributions in long-term domestic partnerships.
