Marriage and Its Characteristic in Korean Culture

Why do people get married? Marriage has the twofold purpose of establishing a conjugal life (companionship) and the establishing a family (procreation and support of children). The married state constitutes a conjugal society. It is a natural institution. Man is drawn to it by the necessity of his natural nature. While marriage is not necessary in order to beget children, it is necessary for the purpose of care and training of children. The welfare of the children then is the primary purpose of marriage.

This is precisely why marriage by nature and by divine will is stable or permanent relationship since welfare of the children would not otherwise be assured. The secondary purpose of marriage is mutual support and companionship. Marriage is a state where spouses compliment each other. Love and concern for each other is the foundation of a happy marriage. Without such love and appreciation for each other, no man and woman can be together permanently (Blood, 2001). Thus, such love which draws spouses in marriage must be more than physical attachment, sexual attraction, or infatuation. It is the deep commitment of matured persons for each other

Marriage is one of the biggest events of an individual’s life. It is not simply a civil contract binding man and woman to accomplish a task. It is the sanctified union of the souls of the spouses. The sanctity of marriage derives from the holiness of God who instituted it and from the honest surrender of man’s will to the natural law of his being. Indeed, man is directed by his nature to marriage without however being compelled to enter it out of necessity. The freedom of choice, even to enter marriage, belongs to the person. Marriage is another phase of one’s life.

It has many responsibilities to perform as a wife or husband and being a parent to your children. Having these roles to play is one of the biggest challenges an individual could face because you are molding the character of your children and how you can make the marriage work out and last. Responsible parenthood and performing your duties as husband and wife are one of the specific challenges in marriage.

a) Responsible Parenthood

Marriage leads to parenthood. This is the primary purpose of marriage that children are generated and cared for. Children are really the supreme gift of marriage and contribute very substantially to the welfare of their parents. Today, responsible parenthood includes the ability to make an honest decision on the size of the family, on the number of children that couples can manage to care for and to support given their resources.

In spite of the intimately private nature of this decision, it has a wide socio-moral implication, making such decision difficult. In many countries, especially those referred to as Third World, the size of the family and the methods to be employed towards this particular objective has become a political controversy.

b) Rights and Duties of Husband and Wife

The husband and are obliged to live together, observe mutual love, respect and fidelity, and render mutual help and support. The husband and wife shall fix the family domicile. In case of disagreement, the court shall decide. The spouses are jointly responsible for the management of the household. When one of the spouses neglects his or her duties to the union or commits acts which tend to bring danger, dishonor pr injury to the other or to the family, the aggrieved party may apply to the court for relief.

2. What can family and friends do to ease this transition?

Everyone needs a friend. As a saying goes, no man is an island. Even if we are already married and have children, we still need our family and friends to support and help us in making us understand what married life is. An individual’s family and friends are of great help if he decides to get married or he/she is already in marriage. These people can lend some helpful advices and tips that would help the marriage life “easier” and successful. They are there to guide and support if the married individual struggles to handle inevitable circumstances.

3. One similarity and one difference with this rite, marriage, as compared to KOREAN Culture.

Every country has its own culture and traditions. These traditions would determine how we live our lives as individuals. Few years back in Korean culture, arrange or fix marriage is practiced. Parents will be the one to arrange the marriage for their children but recently, this practice is no longer popular.

Moreover, wives were formerly regarded as mothers and homemakers, even though many of them (such as those on farms) were actually part of the workforce. Today wives in increasing numbers work outside of the home, often contributing substantially to the family income. This change has been due in part to the changing status of women in society. It has been made possible by the development of effective methods of birth control and of day-care centers for preschool children.

Furthermore, the foundation of the family is marriage, which provides the cultural mechanism to insure its continuity. The family performs varied functions, among them the sex and parental function, socialization and social control, biological maintenance, status placement, and economic, religious, educational, recreational, and political functions.

Reference:

1. Blood, B. (2001). Marriage and family, 5th edition (prentice-Hall, 1999).