It Wasn't Genetics or Exercise... The Biggest Factor Affecting My Health Was "This"

Korea Health Promotion Institute's "Health Perception Survey Report"
Money ranks first... Only 139,000 won invested per month

A recent survey found that people in Korea cited "money" as the factor that has the greatest impact on their health status.

On January 25, the Korea Health Promotion Institute released the "2025 Health Perception Survey Report," which summarizes the results of a survey conducted from October 31 to November 14 of the previous year among 2,000 men and women nationwide aged 20 to under 70. The most common response to the question of which factor had the greatest influence on their health was "income and social status" (33.3%). This was followed by "physical environment such as exercise facilities and park infrastructure" (14.8%), "genetic factors" (12.8%), and "personal lifestyle habits and coping skills" (11.5%).

Citizens are exercising at a gym in Seoul.

Looking at the results from 2023 to last year, "genetic factors" ranked first in both 2023 and 2024, but last year, "income and social status" took the top spot. The view that income and social status have the greatest impact on health was common across all age groups. Among young adults in their 20s and 30s, middle-aged adults in their 40s and 50s, and older adults in their 60s, this response was the highest at 29.6%, 36.4%, and 32.6%, respectively. The second most important factor differed by age group: young and middle-aged adults chose "physical environment such as exercise facilities and park infrastructure," while older adults selected "personal lifestyle habits and coping skills."

When asked why it is difficult to maintain a healthy lifestyle, the most common answer was "because I lack willpower and am lazy" (35.8%). Other responses included "because I am too busy with work and daily life and have no time" (20.7%), and "because I tried but could not feel much change" (8.8%).

Respondents thought the appropriate amount to invest in a healthy life was an average of 273,000 won per month, but the actual amount invested was only half that, at an average of 139,000 won. The area where people invested the most money for a healthy life was "diet" at 42.3%, followed by "exercise" (28.8%) and "medical treatment" (16.1%).

Respondents believed the appropriate amount of time to invest in a healthy life was an average of 8.0 hours per week, but the actual time spent was only 5.3 hours on average. The area where the most time was invested was "exercise" at 51.7%, accounting for more than half, followed by "diet" (31.3%) and "medical treatment" (8.8%).

The average desired life expectancy among respondents was 83.8 years, while the average desired healthy life expectancy (excluding years lived with illness) was 78.7 years.