Korean men who own houses are 7.2 times more likely to get married than those who do not, a report showed Sunday.

According to a joint study by Joo Hwi-jeong, a researcher at Korea Research Institute for Vocational Education and Training, and Kim Min-seok, a Ph.D. student at Chungbuk National University, men and women with regular jobs have 4.6 times and 4.9 times higher chances of tying the knot respectively than those with irregular jobs.

The report tracked 1,642 single men and women aged between 19 and 39 from 2013 to 2016, and analyzed how their financial status correlated with them getting married, using information on their assets, income and spending. 

Homeownership for men was the most positive factor, as it reduces the financial burden of starting a marriage, it added.

“Men with regular jobs and their own houses who have more spending power have a much higher chance of getting married,” the authors said in the report.

“Women had more variables (determining their marital status), and women with regular jobs have more chance of getting married. However, women with high income with longer work hours are less likely to get married,” they added.

The report also suggested that improving the quality of jobs and work hours could help tackle the nation’s social problems with low birth rates and an aging population.

By Cho Chung-un (christory@heraldcorp.com)