For the primary time, South Koreans expressed a choice for “a rustic with mature democracy” over “an economically rich nation” as their desired future imaginative and prescient for the nation. This marks the primary reversal for the reason that survey started 30 years in the past. Responses indicating important conflicts between the capital area and provinces, in addition to between women and men, additionally elevated. The wealth hole emerged as essentially the most urgent subject to handle, adopted by employment and actual property/housing issues.
The Ministry of Tradition, Sports activities and Tourism introduced the outcomes of the 2025 Survey on Korean Consciousness and Values, carried out by Ok-Stat Analysis from Aug. 15 to Oct. 2 this 12 months, concentrating on 6,180 women and men aged 13 to 79 nationwide. First launched in 1996, this survey has been carried out each three years since 2013, marking its ninth iteration this 12 months. For the primary time, the survey included adolescents as topics and carried out a separate survey of 1,020 international residents in Korea.
Probably the most notable discovering of this survey is that residents selected “a politically mature democratic nation” as their most desired future imaginative and prescient for Korea. Because the 1996 survey, Koreans had persistently ranked “an economically rich nation” as their prime precedence, however this survey marked the primary time democratic maturity was thought-about extra vital. This seems to stem from the pressing recognition of mature democracy’s significance following current experiences of democratic disaster. 46.9% of residents rated Korea’s stage of democracy as “excessive,” greater than double the proportion who rated it as “low” (21.8%).
In line with the survey, 43.7% of Koreans recognized themselves as “center class,” with an extra 16.8% responding they have been “above center class,” indicating that 60.5% of residents understand themselves as “center class or above.” This represents an 18.1 proportion level improve in comparison with 2022. Nonetheless, Koreans’ total notion of happiness (65.0%→51.9%) and life satisfaction (63.1%→52.9%) declined in comparison with 2022.
When requested about conflicts between teams, 82.7% of Koreans recognized the battle between progressives and conservatives as essentially the most extreme. This was adopted by conflicts between entrepreneurs and staff (2019: 77.7%→2022: 75.1%→2025: 76.3%) and the rich and abnormal residents (78.9%→76.6%→74%). The proportion viewing battle between the capital area and provinces as extreme reached 69%, a rise of 11.6 proportion factors from 57.4% in 2022. The proportion viewing battle between women and men as extreme additionally rose to 61.1%, up 10.7 proportion factors from 50.4% in 2022. The proportion viewing battle between older and youthful generations as extreme elevated to 67.8% in 2025, up 3 proportion factors from 64.8% in 2022.
The highest precedence points to handle have been recognized because the wealth hole (23.2%), employment (22.9%), and actual property/housing issues (13.2%). The wealth hole drawback rose from 20% within the 2022 survey to 23.2% on this survey, surpassing the employment drawback (29%) which had ranked first within the 2022 survey.
55.2% of Koreans are using generative synthetic intelligence (AI), utilizing it a mean of three.3 instances per day. The most typical makes use of have been private assistant features (50.5%) and textual content technology (35.5%). Notably, amongst respondents who don’t use synthetic intelligence (44.8%), 51.7% cited “not figuring out methods to use it” as the rationale. This implies the necessity for steering and schooling on methods to make the most of the know-how alongside its provision.
Relating to AI’s influence on employment, there was clear concern that it might exchange human labor and deepen job imbalances (64.3%), whereas concurrently expressing expectations for the necessity for shorter working hours and job sharing by means of work effectivity enhancements (51.8%), confirming that considerations and expectations coexist.
Koreans contemplate persona (69.3%) most vital when selecting a partner, adopted by wealth (11.2%) and household background (6.9%). Notably, responses citing occupation (future prospects) as vital declined from 13.7% in 2022 to five.8% in 2025, a lower of seven.9 proportion factors, confirming a diminished emphasis on exterior circumstances corresponding to social standing.
50.9% of Koreans consider the retirement age must be prolonged past the present stage, with an extra 23.1% supporting the abolition of the retirement system, indicating that 74% of residents favor extending the retirement age. Conversely, opinions favoring sustaining the present retirement age dropped considerably from 46.8% in 2022 to fifteen.7% in 2025, a lower of 31.1 proportion factors.
66% of residents evaluated multiculturalism as useful in securing labor power, and 61.3% responded that the constructive results corresponding to strengthening social inclusion are important. 56.5% of residents assessed that multiculturalism doesn’t weaken nationwide cohesion, and 58.2% disagreed that it diminishes satisfaction in single-ethnic heritage.
Within the first-ever survey of adolescents’ total life perceptions, 66.3% of youngsters responded positively to “having time for hobbies or actions they take pleasure in,” and 65.6% agreed that “household is a supportive presence once I’m struggling.” Relating to “pondering hopefully concerning the future,” constructive responses outnumbered adverse ones, however at 45.5%, the constructive notion charge was comparatively low.
Within the first-ever survey of foreigners who’ve resided in Korea for greater than two years concerning their happiness and satisfaction with life in Korea, 55.9% of foreigners responded they’re typically comfortable and 56.1% are glad with their lives. In comparison with Koreans, international residents confirmed each greater happiness and satisfaction charges than Korean happiness (51.9%) and satisfaction (52.9%) ranges.
43.7% of foreigners reported experiencing discrimination in Korea, with “nation of origin” being essentially the most cited motive at 52.9%. Solely 22% of those that skilled discrimination reported “requesting enchancment,” whereas the speed of those that didn’t request enchancment was very excessive (78%). The most typical motive for not requesting enchancment was “pondering that nothing would change even when requested” (42.2%).
A Ministry of Tradition, Sports activities and Tourism coverage official said, “The Survey on Korean Consciousness and Values serves as vital reference materials for presidency coverage formulation. Ranging from 2026, we plan to conduct the survey yearly to assist data-based authorities coverage implementation.”
