North Korea is a country with more women than men, and this demographic structure has had a profound impact on cultural practices and the institution of marriage. The standards of marriage and social interaction in North Korea are quite different from those in our country. Relations between men and women in North Korea are conservative and traditional gender roles are strongly divided. Men are mainly responsible for the external affairs of the family, such as earning money to support the family and taking care of the elderly, while women are mainly responsible for the internal affairs of the family, such as cooking, washing clothes and taking care of children.
As a result, there is less interaction between men and women in North Korea, and more limited contact between men and women. The phenomenon may have something to do with North Korea’s traditional marriage system. North Korea’s traditional marriage system is arranged by parents and elders. They will choose the right spouse for their children to marry when they are adults. Often, parents give priority to the other person’s family background, occupation, economic status and other factors rather than the other person’s personal virtues and character. This system of marriage causes some problems, for example, sometimes couples do not really love each other, but are forced together.
In addition, due to North Korea’s gender imbalance, it is easier for men to find an ideal spouse, while women face greater pressure to compete. As a result, women’s status in the family is relatively low, which also leads to conservative relationships between men and women in North Korea. By contrast, our marriage system is more open and free. In our country, men and women who like each other are free to get married without the need for arrangements from their parents or elders, as is the case in the North. Besides, the importance of gender equality is also higher in our country, and the female has a relatively high status in the family. This has also led to freer and more positive interactions between men and women in our country.
North Korea’s male-female relationship and marriage system are influenced by demographics and traditional culture. Compared with our country, the marriage system in North Korea is relatively conservative, and the relationship between men and women is relatively cold. However, in today’s society, with the cultural and social changes, the concept of marriage and marriage system in North Korea are also changing. With the process of modernization and globalization, the concept and institution of marriage in North Korea is also undergoing some changes.
More and more young people are beginning to assert their right to love freely and choose their spouse freely, instead of relying on their parents or elders for arrangements. In addition, with the acceleration of the pace of opening up to the outside world, foreign culture and values have gradually entered the North Korean society, which also has a certain impact on the concept and system of marriage in the North.
Despite this, traditional culture and conservative customs still exist in North Korea and in some ways still influence people’s ideas and behaviors about marriage. In North Korea, for example, men generally shoulder more of the family responsibilities and burdens, while women are more involved in caring for the home and children, which also keeps women in a relatively low position in the workplace and society. In addition, divorce is seen as an immoral act in North Korea, so many couples are reluctant to divorce even if they do not agree with each other, which also causes trouble for many families.
At the same time, the concept of marriage and institution of our country are developing and changing constantly. With the continuous progress and development of the society, the awareness of gender equality in our country has become higher, and the relationship between men and women has become more equal and open. In addition, Chinese laws and policies have actively promoted the reform and improvement of the marriage system. For example, polygamy has been abolished, divorce procedures and property distribution have been regulated, all of which contribute to enhancing the justice and transparency of the marriage system.
In short, there are some differences between the DPRK and our marriage concepts and institutions, but with the change of times and cultural integration, the two countries’ marriage concepts and institutions are gradually converging. Whether in the DPRK or in our country, it is still everyone’s ideal and pursuit to establish a healthy, equal and happy marriage relationship. At the same time, with the acceleration of globalization and the development of information technology, more and more people come into contact with different cultures, different values and different lifestyles. This also makes people’s concept of marriage more diversified and open. In this era, people pay more attention to freedom, equality and respect for each other’s right to choose, rather than just passively accept traditional arrangements and constraints.
In addition, in the modern society, women gradually enter the workplace and society, and assume more and more family and social responsibilities. Therefore, the division of roles and mutual support between men and women are becoming more and more important in the institution of marriage. This also requires us to re-examine the traditional marriage concepts and institutions, and promote the equality and healthy development of marriage relations.
To sum up, different countries and cultures have different ideas and institutions about marriage, but in today’s society, people are more in pursuit of freedom, equality and respect. Only by adhering to the principles of equality, openness and respect for each other’s right to choose can a healthy and happy marriage be established.
