Korean Dating to Marriage—How Long It Really Takes
You’ve mastered the Gobaek (confession), you’re celebrating your 100-day anniversaries, and now the big question looms: how long until you take the next, final plunge into marriage?
In many Western cultures, the timeline from dating to marriage can be leisurely, often stretching many years based purely on individual readiness. In South Korea, however, the timeline is often more structured, deliberate, and influenced by societal and financial readiness rather than just romantic feeling.
As a local, I’m here to give you the candid, expert insight into the typical timeline for Korean dating to marriage, what milestones matter most, and how intercultural couples often speed up (or slow down) the pace.
Phase 1: The Commitment Test (0 to 6 Months)
This phase is about establishing loyalty, defining the relationship, and introducing the major milestones.
- The Gobaek (Confession): The relationship officially starts. This happens quickly—usually within the first few weeks or months of dating.
- The 100-Day Milestone: This is the first major test. Successfully celebrating the 100th day proves commitment and diligence.
- Marriage Talk: While not a commitment, serious couples often start discussing the possibility of marriage, housing plans, and financial goals between 3 to 6 months of dating. This early talk ensures both partners share the same long-term vision.
Local Insight: If a Korean couple is dating for over a year without any talk of future plans, it’s often seen as a sign that the relationship may not be headed toward marriage.
Phase 2: The Evaluation Period (6 Months to 2 Years)
This is the standard period for relationship longevity, meeting the families, and solidifying the foundation.
Meeting the Parents: This usually happens between 6 months and 1 year. This is the highest-stakes milestone, signaling to both families that the relationship is officially serious.
The Average Proposal: For many Korean couples, the average time from the start of dating to the formal proposal (proposeu) and engagement is often between 1.5 to 2.5 years. This gives them enough time to vet each other, travel together, and ensure financial compatibility.
Phase 3: The Planning and Financial Period (2 to 3.5 Years)
Once engaged, the relationship becomes a meticulously planned project focused on legal and financial readiness.
Financial Readiness: The longest delay is often securing housing (Jeonse or Wolse deposit). This requires significant savings and cooperation from both families, extending the time between proposal and wedding by 6 months to over a year.
Wedding Planning: The planning process itself (booking a high-demand wedding hall, setting dates) often takes 6 months to 1 year.
Average Wedding Timeline: The typical time from the official start of dating to the wedding ceremony is around 2.5 to 3.5 years for an average urban Korean couple.
The Intercultural Difference (The Visa Variable)
For international couples, the visa process adds a mandatory layer of delay.
The Legal Delay: The need to secure the F-6 Marriage Immigrant Visa adds at least 3 to 6 months (or longer, depending on the embassy) to the timeline. Couples often wait to hold the wedding until the foreign spouse has the F-6 visa in hand, ensuring stable residency and work rights.
The Result: While intercultural couples may emotionally commit faster, the bureaucratic hurdles often push the actual wedding ceremony timeline to 3 to 4 years from the start of dating.