Perceptions of Unmarried Men Toward Female Peers: "Competent but Hypocritical"

'Do you want to be with peers of the opposite sex?'
56% of men say yes, but only 27% of women do

As South Korea records one of the world's lowest birth rates and experiences a rapid decline in marriage rates, a public opinion survey has revealed a significant level of mutual distrust between men and women.

In celebration of Family Month in May, Gallup Korea released the results of a survey on the "Image of Opposite Sex Peers" on the 12th, which showed that half of unmarried men and women responded that "it is difficult to empathize with peers of the opposite sex."

Additionally, about 40% thought of each other as "irresponsible."

Unmarried men described women as "competent" (46%) but also "hypocritical" (50%), while only 24% of unmarried women viewed men as "competent."

Half of Men "Want to Be with the Opposite Sex"... Only 27% of Women Agree

Regardless of marital status, 56% of men considered women of a similar age as someone they "want to be with," but only 27% of women agreed that they "want to be with men." Meanwhile, 41% said they "do not want to be with them."

Married individuals had a more favorable view of the opposite sex compared to unmarried individuals. Both men and women saw each other as "responsible" (around 70%), "competent" (around 60%), and "honest" (in the high 40% range).

However, this survey alone cannot determine whether married people had a positive view of the opposite sex before marriage or if their views became more positive after living together.

This survey was conducted from August 12 to 22, 2022, targeting 1,202 people nationwide aged 19 to 59 (617 men and 585 women). Respondents were asked about their overall perceptions of peers of the opposite sex in seven aspects: responsibility, competence, honesty, ease of empathy, desire for intimacy, approachability, and friendliness. The responses were measured on a three-point scale including positive, negative, and neutral.

Foreign Media: "The Root Cause of South Korea's Low Birthrate... Serious Distrust and Hatred Between Genders"

Meanwhile, foreign media analysis has previously suggested that the fundamental cause of South Korea's low birthrate crisis is none other than "gender conflict."

In a column titled "The Real Reason Koreans Are Not Having Children," published on March 21 (local time) in the U.S. current affairs weekly The Atlantic, journalist Anna Louise Susman diagnosed that "in South Korea, gender is the sharpest social fault line, more so than race, age, or immigration status."

Susman also referenced the 2016 Gangnam Station bathroom murder case, stating, "It could have happened to anyone, and many young Korean women were angry and terrified," and pointed out, "According to an actual Ministry of Gender Equality and Family survey, 62% of Korean women have experienced dating violence from their partners."

In this atmosphere, she explained that "tens of thousands of women are actively choosing single life by pursuing the so-called '4B' (non-dating, non-sexual relations, non-marriage, non-childbearing)." Instead, some are raising pets or dating other women.

At the same time, Susman noted that men are also growing angry due to competition in the labor market.

She said, "Although South Korea's unemployment rate is below 4%, the unemployment rate among people in their 20s is quite high," and added, "Men perceive that women, who enter the labor market about 18 months to two years earlier while men fulfill their mandatory military service, have an advantageous position."

She continued, "President Yoon Suk-yeol was elected amid a wave of male anger," and "He promised to abolish the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, which treats men as 'potential sex offenders.'"