Singer Noh Sa-yeon has sparked controversy after sharing blunt thoughts on the fast-spreading ‘50-50 marriage’ trend.
On March 24, the web variety show mothers-in-law featured dancer Kinky, who joined Noh Sa-yeon and Ttoto to talk about changing marriage trends. Kinky opened, “These days, more couples split everything 50-50—from wedding costs to childcare and everyday life.”
Hearing this, Noh Sa-yeon expressed surprise, saying, “Honestly, I don’t really get it.” Ttoto and Kinky then used a role-play to explain cases where couples divide everything from ceremony expenses to housework and even driving.
After watching the skit, Noh said, “You’d have to share the same values to make that kind of marriage possible,” while warning, “If it gets too transactional, the relationship can grow distant.” She added, “From a child’s point of view, constantly splitting roles could be confusing.”
Kinky also pointed out practical issues. “Even if you start out rational, conflicts arise over where to draw the line—‘Do we really have to split this too?’” they said, noting how it’s hard to balance different cost structures, like wedding dresses versus suits.
Noh emphasized, “Love is about giving. It’s more beautiful when you give,” adding, “If you’re always doing the math, the essence of the relationship can get lost.”
Kinky cited economic pressure as the backdrop for the trend: “With housing prices and other realities, many couples can only marry by pooling resources,” they said, pointing to the changing social climate.
Online, reactions are divided—some say “Being that calculative would be exhausting,” while others call it “an unavoidable, realistic choice”—fueling heated debate around 50-50 marriages.