A survey of sexual behavior of teenagers in South Korea: 2006

Lee, Im Soon; Choi, Gyu Yeon; Cha, Sang Heon; Kim, Mi Kyung; Lee, Jeong Jae

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
This research was performed to improve the health of Korean adolescents and to prepare adequate teaching programs by investigating their sexual cognition and behavior and preparing for adequate programs.
METHODS
We conducted a survey of eighty thousand middle and high school students whose ages range from 13 to 18, during the period of September 1st, 2006 to October 30th, 2006.
RESULTS
78,593 people are polled and 71,404 people responded. Accordingly, the response rate was 90.0%: 52.1% (37,204) of the respondents were boys and 47.9% (34,200) were girls; 52.4% (37,420) of respondents were middle school students, 32.9% (23,500) of them were high school students, and 14.7% (10,479) of them were technical high school students. The rate of respondents who had experienced sexual relationship was 5.1%. The average age of starting sexual relationship was 14.2 year old. The rate of respondents who had experienced sexual relationship before they go to the middle school was 1.0%. The rate of pregnancy experience was 0.5%. The rate of respondents who were using a contraceptive method was 38.1%. The average boys age of having the first wet dream was 13.1 years old and girls of starting menstruation was 12.5 year old. The rate of using inappropriate contraception was 24.3%. The rate of having a sex education per a year was 62.0%.
CONCLUSION
This research shows that the rate of adolescents who are experiencing sexual relationship is increasing. Besides, the age of adolescents starting sexual relationship is decreasing as their age of starting wet dream and menstruation decreases. As a result, it is strongly asserted that adequate sex education programs are indispensable to adolescents.