Do love and relationship dynamics change across generations? Are there distinct traits that define a generation’s approach to romance?

Asking the right questions can reveal much. In South Korea, some such questions include "What would you do if your parents disapproved of your relationship or marriage?" "Would you marry someone you met on a dating app?" and "Would you date a feminist?" (for men).

We asked eight Generation Zers, aged late teens to mid-20s, these and other questions to explore the themes of love, relationships and commitment in today’s society.

Park Sae-him, 24, male

“I fight a lot with my girlfriend,” admitted Park Sae-him, a 24-year-old, sitting alone at a cafe. “It’s because we don’t see eye to eye on many issues — mostly politics.”

Park shared that he leans toward the political right, while his girlfriend aligns more with the left. As South Korean politics have become more chaotic in recent months, the influence of their differing political views has grown stronger.

“We interpret the same political situations very differently,” he said. “For example, I thought the impeachment of President Yoon (Suk Yeol) was too extreme, but my girlfriend believed it was the right decision. That led to a heated debate.”

Their disagreements aren’t limited to politics. They often find themselves arguing over issues related to gender conflicts as well.

“Men and women seem increasingly divided these days,” he explained. “Feminism, for instance, puts me off, but my girlfriend sees it as a necessary ideology. I think this is a common point of contention among many young men and women today.”

Park acknowledged that these clashes in political and social beliefs seem to strain their relationship.

Due to his experience, he partially regrets starting the relationship without discussing these topics in depth beforehand.

“I began dating my girlfriend because it was love at first sight when I saw her at a swimming pool,” he shared. “But now I realize that basing a relationship purely on physical attraction can lead to significant challenges.”

Ben Maik Woller, 22, male

“I never used dating apps back in Germany,” said Ben Woller, an exchange student at Kyunghee University in Seoul in his early 20s.

He was trying to write a letter to his girlfriend in a convenience store when we met him. He shared that he had started using dating apps for the first time in Korea.

“Since English is my main language for communication here, it was so hard for me to make friends," he said. "I couldn’t talk to random people in class because I wasn’t sure how well they spoke English."

Using apps, therefore, allowed him to estimate how well he could communicate with others before meeting them in person.

While making friends was his key motivation, Woller acknowledged that dating apps helped him connect with a supportive girlfriend.

“Even through text, I could tell our vibes matched perfectly,” he said with a smile. “When we met in person, our conversations were just as fun and honest as they were online. We’ve been dating for a few months now, and it’s amazing.”

As an exchange student with limited time in Korea, the couple had to go through the challenges of discussing commitment. Luckily, though, they share a mutual perspective on the future, he said.

“We’ve agreed to try a long-distance relationship when I return to Germany,” he explained. “While it’s scary to face the uncertainty of the future, we’re willing to take the leap."

"We trust each other and believe we’ll meet again to build a life together,” Woller said.

Park Soo-hyun, 26, female

When asked to describe her boyfriend, Park Soo-hyun, in her 20s, offered a charmingly unconventional answer: “He resembles a capybara.”

What is a capybara-like boyfriend?

"Capybaras are not just adorable but caring and affectionate. My boyfriend is just like that, with his supportive and laid-back nature,” she said, sitting hand-in-hand with her boyfriend at a cafe.

“I’ve always dreamed of a relationship where communication flows effortlessly,” Park shared.

The couple has had their share of heated arguments, Park said, but so far, they’ve managed to work through them. “I used to be anxious about conflicts in a relationship. I thought they could lead to uncomfortable situations and eventually a breakup,” she shared.

"Whenever we fought over small differences, he would initiate thoughtful, unhurried conversations,” she said. “He had me realize that embracing our differences as they are and accepting each other as individuals can strengthen our bond.”

This growth has deepened her commitment to their future together.

“Marriage is the ultimate goal in this relationship,” Park said. “I can’t wait to have children with him and raise them to be happy little capybaras, just like the two of us.”

Lee Bom, 18, female

Lee Bom was waiting for the train when we met her. She said she was single and not actively looking to date someone, with her focus on personal growth and achievements now.

“I’m so focused on studying and learning coffee-making,” she said. “Even if I were to date someone, my life and goals would come first, not love itself.”

She said that when parents disapprove of your relationship, there's usually a reason.

“At first, I would try to convince my parents to respect and accept my choice, but if they kept disapproving, I would reflect on my decisions." She added, "It’s important to approach the situation objectively.”

For her, family takes precedence over romance, she continued.

“I don’t think you should blindly dive into love,” she said. “For me, familial love and trust are more important than romantic pursuits. I’d rather preserve my relationship with my family than risk losing it for love.”

Lee Ji-han, 17, female

Despite still being in high school, Lee Ji-han has affirmative thoughts on marriage.

“It’s on my bucket list,” she said. “It is like an important milestone in life. Just like graduating from school and getting a job, marriage seems like a necessary step to take.”

While Lee sees marriage as part of her future, her immediate focus remains on personal achievements.

“Honestly, I’m too busy to date anyone right now,” she admitted. “My priority is excelling in what I’m doing now, which is academics.”

Similarly, Lee finds excellence a critical trait for her future partner since her priorities lie in ambition and dedication.

“I want to be with someone from whom I can learn,” she explained. “That’s why I want my future partner to be successful in his field; that will earn my love and respect.”

In fact, Lee has a specific ideal in mind: the Korean professional gamer Lee "Faker" Sang-hyeok.

“He’s driven, talented and the best at what he does. Plus, he’s handsome,” she said with a hint of shyness.

Kim, 24, female

Kim, a college student in her 20s, shared with The Korea Herald that she recently broke up with her same-sex partner.

“I couldn’t tell my parents anything about my relationship because I was almost certain they wouldn’t approve of my girlfriend,” she said. “They’re very conservative and wouldn’t have accepted the fact that I like women.”

Kim was thinking about revealing their relationship to her parents, but her girlfriend strongly disagreed.

“She was terrified of what might happen if we came out. She didn’t want me to say anything,” Kim explained. “But I felt it was important for our parents to know and accept us for who we were.”

The ongoing conflict over whether to tell their parents created a strain in their relationship, ultimately leading to their breakup.

Even after separating, Kim holds their time together close to her heart.

“It was the purest love, the kind you only experience in your teenage years,” she reflected. “I don’t hear from her anymore, but I hope she’s living her best life out there.”

Jeon Chung-rim, 25, female

Jeon Chung-rim said she has been happily married for two years now.

"I never thought of marrying someone before I met my husband," said Jeon, who was shopping at a cosmetics shop in Seoul. "In fact, I hadn't even given any thought to who I want as my partner."

Surprisingly, she said her decision to marry, however, wasn't solely driven by love for her husband.

"I didn't marry purely for love," she explained. "I thought marriage would eliminate many of the barriers I faced at that time. For instance, I no longer need to tell parents when we want to travel together."

The practical benefits of marriage also played a significant role.

"It opened up so many regulatory advantages," she said. "When I go to the hospital, I can cite my husband as my legal guardian. Even starting a business together is much easier as a married couple."

Although Jeon feels satisfied in her relationship, she acknowledged that there were moments of tension.

"We used to fight a lot during our dating phase," she confessed. "I was working in a service job, and the stress from work would often make me lash out at him."

Even with these challenges, Jeon credits her husband’s personality for the strength of their relationship.

"My husband is not only loving but also incredibly generous. I think these qualities made me decide to marry him, and I’m yet to regret that decision," she said.

'My parents wouldn’t approve of my girlfriend'

Lee Gi-tae, 17, male

While Lee Gi-tae, a high school student we met on the streets of Yongsan, described his girlfriend as his “ideal type,” he has yet to introduce her to his parents.

“A lot of my friends’ parents oppose them dating because they think we should focus on studying,” he said. “But my parents have a different reason. They might dislike my girlfriend because of where she’s from.”

“My parents are from the Gyeongsang provinces, and they hold prejudices against people from the Jeolla region," Lee explained, adding that his girlfriend's family is from Jeolla.

Despite the worries, Lee hopes to introduce his girlfriend to them if their relationship deepens.

"I don’t think disagreement from parents should stop anyone from dating. If I genuinely love someone, I’d try to persuade my parents instead of blindly following their opinions," he said.

“Even if they keep disapproving, I’d continue pursuing it because love is about my feelings and choices, not theirs."