Most S. Koreans experience premarital sex before 30: survey

SEOUL, Jan. 24 (Yonhap) -- Most South Koreans experience premarital sex before
they turn 30, a lifestyle survey showed Sunday.
The poll conducted by the Korean Women's Development Institute (KWDI) on 3,084
people showed that 67.2 percent of unmarried males aged 25-30 experienced
premarital sex using some form of contraception in the past year, while 45.1
percent of single males of ages 19-24 said they engaged in premarital sex during
the past year.
Among female respondents, 51.2 percent of those aged 25-30 said they had
premarital sex using a contraceptive in the past year, while 34.9 percent of
respondents aged 19-24 said they had premarital sex using birth control.
The survey also showed that 51.8 percent males aged 25-30 had unprotected sex
last year, while 43.2 percent of females in the same age bracket had sex with no
form of contraception.
The KWDI survey also showed 11.4 percent of males aged 25-30 felt virginity was
important in finding a spouse, while 12 percent of females in the same age
bracket shared the same view.
"It can be interpreted that at least two-thirds of males and half of females
experience premarital sex before entering their 30s," Lee Mee-jung, a senior
researcher at KWDI said.
odissy@yna.co.kr
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