TOKYO - An increasing number of South Korean men are traveling to Japan to find Japanese wives, with some making repeated trips each year until they meet a potential partner. Behind this trend lies a mix of cultural expectations and economic pressures.
One such man is Ha Kyungmin, 35, who works in research and development at a Korean aircraft manufacturer. Ha flew to Japan specifically for a matchmaking session and had been studying Japanese in preparation for the meeting. He chose a matcha café—popular among Japanese women—for the date and brought a fighter jet badge from his workplace as a conversation piece.
The cost of this cross-border matchmaking effort is not small. Ha has spent over 1 million yen on travel, matchmaking fees, and grooming. Despite the investment, he says he is prepared to come to Japan multiple times a year if needed.
"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.
"Korean men had nearly given up on getting married back home," said Hong. "But Japanese women have this attitude of working together as a team, which really appeals to them."
The agency attributes the trend to the financial burden placed on men by Korean marriage customs, particularly the expectation to provide housing.
Japanese women, on the other hand, 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.
"Since childhood, they’ve been exposed to Korean movies and pop culture, which they associate with being cool and stylish," said Misayo Sasano, a lecturer at Ibaraki University.
Although Ha met eight women at the matchmaking party, he did not find a partner this time. Still, he remains committed to the journey.
"I’ll keep being proactive about finding someone," he said.
As cultural ties between Japan and South Korea deepen, cross-border marriages may become increasingly common.
