Fewer than four out of 10 unmarried women now believe marriage to be necessary, according to a survey released by Statistics Korea on Thursday.

The proportion of people who view marriage as less than an absolute necessity stood at 57 percent, and a mere 39 percent among unmarried women.

The figure has continued to dwindle since 2008, when it was still 68 percent.

Attitudes to divorce are also relaxing, with just 44 percent of respondents saying divorce should be avoided, down from the 59 percent in 2008.

Some 47 percent replied it is perfectly acceptable for an unmarried couple to live together.

Asked about the massive cost of weddings, 76 percent considered the status quo extravagant. Surprisingly the proportion was higher among high-income households.

The proportion who said children should take care of their retired parents has also shrunk from 41 percent in 2008 to 32 percent. Some 76 percent of men declared themselves satisfied with their wife, but only 60 percent of women were content with their husbands.

Meanwhile, some 51 percent said they feel unsafe in Korea, up from the 38 percent of 2012.

The survey was conducted among 37,000 people over 13 in May.