I think your view of Korean culture is outdated, probably because your Korean friend is second or third generation Korean American. (Many of those people tend to keep facets of Korean culture from when they emigrated. Considering that Korea in the 1950s was little better than Afghanistan now, the difference can be huge.)
In 2022, 8.7% of all marriages in Korea were between a Korean and a foreigner. Modern Koreans are not strangers to the idea of marrying foreigners.
* Also, if I were you, I'd advise your friend to tell their family to get lost. I did see parents objecting to their kids' marriages, but telling them not to have kids is a weekend K-drama level of shitty behavior.
First generation, but older, so maybe it's changed. But Korea's foreign-born population is just 4.4% as of 2022. So what are the nature of these marriages? Would it be socially acceptable for a high class person?
> lso, if I were you, I'd advise your friend to tell their family to get lost. I did see parents objecting to their kids' marriages, but telling them not to have kids is a weekend K-drama level of shitty behavior.
Marriages are between families. They get a say, especially when inheritances are at issue.
> Would it be socially acceptable for a high class person?
One nice side effect of Korea's tumultuous 20th century is that old social hierarchy mostly collapsed, because everything burned down. Hyundai's founder was famously a son of a peasant. You could be literally a great-great-great-grandson of the last king and your friends would be like "Oh really? Cool story bro."
So I don't think the question is applicable at all, unless we're talking about a handful of ultra-riches - who knows what they are thinking.
In 2022, 8.7% of all marriages in Korea were between a Korean and a foreigner. Modern Koreans are not strangers to the idea of marrying foreigners.
* Also, if I were you, I'd advise your friend to tell their family to get lost. I did see parents objecting to their kids' marriages, but telling them not to have kids is a weekend K-drama level of shitty behavior.