Who usually pays on a date in Korea?

There is no single rule, but surveys suggest most Korean couples do not split every bill exactly 50/50. According to a dating app survey by Enrich, the operator of the app Whee, 52.5% of men and 52.7% of women said they typically spend between 50,000 and 100,000 won per date. Only 11.2% of men and 5.4% of women said they prefer splitting the total bill evenly.

What do Korean couples actually do?

Men most often said they prefer paying flexibly depending on the situation (40%), while women most often preferred taking turns at each place (40.8%). In a survey of 1,000 unmarried adults by marriage agency Gayeon, 39.6% said men should pay more, 38% said costs should be split evenly, and 31.6% said the higher earner should pay more.

Why is the 50/50 debate so heated?

A recent anonymous post on the workplace community Blind asking about real-life splits drew about 10,000 views and 384 comments in two days. Supporters of 50/50 argued that couples who are dating equally should share costs equally, while others said that in practice men tend to pay more and that dating costs should not be treated as a measure of affection. Discussions also turned personal and insulting, so many comments are best read as a snapshot of opinion rather than a rule.

How does it compare with the US and UK?

In a YouGov poll, 35% of Americans said men should always pay, while 32% said the person who asked should pay and 15% said costs should be split. A NerdWallet survey found 65% expected the person who asked to pay. A Bank of America survey found 56% of Americans said first-date costs should be split. In a UK survey of 1,800 users, 64% of women said they felt more comfortable splitting costs after the person who asked offered to pay first.

For international fans

If you are dating someone in Korea, the safest approach is to talk openly about money early, especially if one of you earns much more than the other. Expectations vary by age and generation, so a short conversation can prevent misunderstandings. Costs quoted above come from surveys conducted at a specific time and may not reflect current prices in every city.