For this culture post, I will be analyzing a video of an interviewer from the Asian Boss YouTube channel asking South Koreans about their opinions on dating statistics. They interviewed three men and three women separately, and it was interesting to see what they agreed and disagreed on. The interviewer stated to them that, according to the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs, the majority of South Koreans ages 20-44 are single. Additionally, only a little over a quarter of the single population are in relationships. The interviewees responded with some surprise, but each person could see the truth of the statistics from their daily experiences. It was said across the board that one of the main reasons for not seeking a partner was the lack of time and energy due to work or school. They explained that the job market is highly competitive, and it is difficult for young people to establish a career for themselves. This is why most students entering college ask about future job opportunities and internships available instead of college life. A top priority is resume building and gaining experience in the workforce. This process of constantly trying to be the best, or at least better than the majority, is stressful. The increased anxiety also contributes to not feeling as though they can dedicate themselves to a relationship.
One man stated that because he will be starting his military service soon, he would rather wait to start a relationship. South Korea has a requirement that all men must complete two years of service. Because the optimal age to do this is when you are younger and more fit, this could easily drive a wrench in the dating sphere. The women responded with how they spend the little free time they have with themselves just to relax and unwind. From what they were saying, I was able to hypothesize that they were implying if you don’t have enough time to give to yourself, you don’t have time to commit to someone else.
Something I found interesting about this video was when the interviewer mentioned the theory that CNN presented about the increased danger and risk of sexual assault when dating. The women responded with either complete agreement or understanding that it could very well be true. The men, however, did not think it was true at all and that the low dating rates were better explained by little time and too high of standards. It is interesting to see the difference in perspective depending on gender. My impression is that while the conversation about sexual assault is fairly open and common in the United States, it is not as widely talked about in South Korea. It could be that women might talk about it more frequently with each other but not to men. Therefore, the women in the video agreed with the previous CNN statement while the men did not. This is just speculation, but it is what I think could be a possible explanation for the difference of opinion.
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