卒婚

 When I saw this term in the episode of the Korean variety show "Running Man" aired on December 28, 2025, I honestly thought something terrible had happened!

While the Chinese character "卒" (zú) has multiple meanings, in modern everyday language, it is most commonly associated with death. For instance, "暴卒" (bào zú) refers to sudden death, and "病卒" (bìng zú) means passing away due to illness.

Because of its association with death, the word also signifies an "ending." This brings us to "卒婚" (そつこん,Sotsukon ), a concept originating from Japan that has become a popular marriage trend. 

 It refers to a model where a couple remains legally married but stops interfering in each other's lives, allowing both partners to pursue their own independence and freedom. It’s as if the "romantic/spousal" side of the marriage has ended, and the relationship has transitioned into one of kinship. This is particularly common among mature couples whose children have reached adulthood.

The key difference between 卒婚 and 離婚(divorce) is that 卒婚 preserves the legal bond and family identity, whereas 離婚(divorce) terminates the marriage completely. This allows couples to enjoy the second half of their lives without the need for a formal split. Whether they continue to live together or choose to live separately, the core idea is to give each other space, making the relationship more relaxed and sustainable in the long run.