Imagine being given lakhs of rupees by the government that too just for going on a date or getting married and having children. Sounds bizarre, right? But in South Korea, this is now a very real policy, born out of desperation instead of generosity.And at the heart of this extraordinary move lies a deeply human crisis: Relationships are disappearing from everyday life.
No time for loveWhile South Korea is one of the world’s most advanced economies, it seems its success has come at a huge cost. People in South Korea usually have long working hours, competitive working environments, and high living expenses– all of which leave them with no time for romance. And so, most young adults in South Korea seem to find dating to be exhausting or too costly instead of being a happy part of their lives.For most employees in South Korea, mornings are rushed with the commute to the office, followed by busy days at work and evenings spent alone, often scrolling on phones, resting, or preparing for the next workday. This has made relationships, marriage, and having children take a back seat for most people, which in turn has resulted in low birth rates.
South Korea now has one of the lowest birth rates in the world, with fertility levels dropping to alarming lows. In Seoul alone, the fertility rate dropped to just 0.58 in 2024, this is far below what’s needed to sustain the population, as per a report by South China Morning Post (SCMP).Considering this, the South Korean government has now decided to intervene with cash incentives to those who date, marry and have kids.South Korea is paying people to date and marry – Can money save relationships in a country that’s running out of time?In a bid to revive relationships, local governments across South Korea are offering financial incentives to people at every stage of their romantic commitment. According to a report by NDTV, in some Korean regions, couples can get up to 500,000 won (roughly INR 31,000) just for dating. The money can be spent on meals, movies, or shared activities, making romance officially “state-sponsored.” If parents meet as part of the relationship process, those expenses may also be covered.Meanwhile, a SCMP report highlights that marriage incentives by the government are even more generous in Korea. In Busan’s Saha district, couples who meet through government-organised matchmaking events and decide to get married can receive up to 20 million won (about INR 12–13 lakh). This includes funds for dating, engagement meetings, and even honeymoon travel.Other regions in the country have also rolled out similar programmes. In Geochang county, newlyweds aged 19 to 45 receive annual payments for three years. Hadong County recently increased its marriage incentive, while areas like Goseong, Miryang, Gimje, and Jangsu offer payouts ranging from 1 million to 10 million won, often spread over several years, as per SCMP.In short, if people are willing to fall in love, commit, and start families in South Korea, the government is willing to help pay for it!Can money fix modern relationships?
While the Korean government seems to want people to have better work-life balance and families, too, by providing incentives, the big question remains: Can money really bring people closer and improve their relationships?The SCMP report from May 2025 reveals that early results are mixed. Some regions that have distributed marriage grants for years haven’t seen lasting increases in marriage rates. In places like Jinju and Jangsu, the numbers briefly improved before falling again.Even officials admit the limitations. “Would anyone really get married just to receive a payment? But doing something feels better than doing nothing,” a local administrator said, reported SCMP.Talking on similar lines, experts too warn that money alone cannot fix deeper issues which is preventing people from marrying or having children. SCMP reports that some economists and sociologists point out that young people are not avoiding relationships because dates are expensive but because they’re struggling with unstable jobs, unaffordable housing, lack of work-life balance, and emotional burnout.“Policies should focus on creating an environment where work and family can coexist… Without addressing structural pressures, financial incentives risk becoming short-term distractions,” said Hong Suk-chul, a professor at Seoul National University, SCMP reported.A relationship crisisSouth Korea’s experiment reveals a global truth: Modern relationships are under pressure everywhere– be it because of work stress, job insecurity or financial issues. But by providing incentives to people to date, marry and have families of their own, South Korea isn’t just fighting low birth rates, but it is also acknowledging that relationships need time, space, and support to survive in today’s fast-paced world. This also shows how rare and invaluable true love and human relationships are.
