Survey on lifestyles of Koreans and Americans in 20s, 30s

This survey was conducted from Mar. 16 to Mar. 23 among Korean and American men and women aged between 20 and 39. Exactly 1,000 people from each of the two countries were selected through random sampling. In Korea, a proportional sampling method was used and the researchers visited each house to interview respondents.

In the U.S. the respondents were sampled at random through CATI, computer based telephone interviewing. The Korean survey was conducted by Research & Research (R&R), and the U.S. survey by Zogby International. The marging of error is plus or minus 3.2 percent both in Korea and the U.S., while the trust level is 95 percent. -ED.

1. Leisure life and volunteer activities

Koreans in their 20s and 30s engage in fewer personal leisure activities such as workouts or cultural pursuits, and volunteer activities are found to be extremely rare.

Only 23 percent of Koreans exercise regularly, mainly swimming or jogging, while 87 percent of Americans enjoy forms of exercise like walking, jogging and biking.

Koreans do not spare much time to enjoy cultural pursuits, such as going to movies, plays, musicals, concerts and operas, seeing sports, and visiting art galleries or museums. As many as 34 percent of those questioned did not view even a single movie a year, while more than 80 percent did not see plays, musicals, concerts or operas.

However, the number of Americans enjoying cultural pursuits was much higher than that of Koreans and they also frequented cultural and performing arts venues much more than Koreans. Koreans in their 20s went to the movies more often than those in their 30s, but there was no significant difference among age groups in the U.S. In terms of Internet access, the two countries showed no significant differences. More than 40 percent of Koreans and Americans surf the Internet every day. Those who almost never use the Internet or have no PC accounted for 34 percent in Korea and 21 percent in the U.S.

As for volunteer activities, the differences between the two peoples were great. Eighty-five percent of Koreans did not do any volunteer work, while 83 percent of Americans said they did.

2. Values and degree of satisfaction with life

Some half (52 percent) of Koreans replied that they did not understand what was the right way to live, showing that many are confused as to proper values. In particular, 58 percent of those questioned said that it was ``hard to be successful through one`s own efforts in society.`` Forty-two percent said that ``abiding by the law in society is not beneficial.`` This indicates that views of the unfairness of society and the loss of trust in law and order have reached a low level.

Koreans were also found to be discontented with society to a considerable extent. Only one in four (24 percent) answered that they were satisfied with society, while 76 percent said they felt dissatisfied.

Only 10 percent of Americans said they did not know the right way to live, and the same percentage said that abiding by the law was not beneficial. Sixty percent of them said they were satisfied with U.S. society.

Among Koreans, the degree of satisfaction with their personal lives, leisure time and hobbies was higher than their satisfaction with society, but was far behind that of the Americans.

Among Americans, the degree of satisfaction with their family life topped 96 percent, 91 percent for leisure and hobbies and 90 percent for working life. The Korean figures were 89 percent for family life, 48 percent for leisure and hobbies and 70 percent for working life.

The goal of Koreans was ``to live while doing what I like to do`` (45 percent), and ``to become wealthy`` (42 percent). The life goal differed according to age. Fifty-four percent of those in their early 20s chose ``living while doing what I like to do`` but the rate decreased to 37 percent among those in their late 30s, while as many as 51 percent of them said their life goal was to become rich, showing that the number of Koreans who pursue economic wealth increases as they get older.

Meanwhile, 66 percent of Americans questioned replied that their goal in life was ``to live while doing what I like to do,`` and 19 percent said their goal was to serve society. Those who set their goal at being rich accounted for only 7 percent.

But Americans were no exception in complaining about their economic problems. Like Koreans, they cited economic problems as the greatest source of stress. (19 percent among Koreans, and 24 percent among Americans). Other elements causing stress were work-related problems (15 percent among Koreans and 19 percent among Americans), and problems with their children (11 percent for both Koreans and Americans).

In terms of expectations of the government, Koreans expected economic prosperity (44 percent), social welfare (27 percent),and social order (11 percent), while Americans looked for military security (30 percent), guarantees of individual freedoms (23 percent) and education (11 percent).

3. Life at workplace and how to accumulate wealth

Both Koreans and Americans change their jobs frequently. Forty-four percent of Koreans moved to other companies once or twice, and those who did three times topped 33 percent, but those who never did so accounted for 24 percent.

Americans moved to other companies more often than Koreans as 57 percent did so three times or more. Both Koreans and Americans placed priorities on pay (28 percent of Koreans, 19 percent of Americans) and advancement possibilities (27 percent of Koreans and 24 percent of Americans) in choosing their jobs.

Both Korean and American women attached major importance to working hours, leaves, fellow workers or atmosphere at their work places in selecting jobs.

Wage earners in their 20s and 30s wanted to work until they were in their 50s or 60s. In the U.S., those who wanted to work until their 50s accounted for 38 percent, higher than 29 percent of Koreans, and both sides replied that they would like to work until their 60s (34 percent).

Koreans accumulate wealth through bank deposits (83 percent), stock investments (7 percent) and real estate investments (4 percent). But Americans make money through diverse methods: bank deposits (57 percent), stock investments (54 percent), real estate investments (15 percent) and investment in artistic works and antiques (12 percent).

Wives in 80 percent of Korean households with double-incomes managed the revenues, while the rate was only 24 percent in the U.S., with 40 percent of the couples managing their incomes separately. Only 7 percent of Koreans said they manage their incomes separately.

4. Marriage and divorce

There were some differences in thoughts about marriage and divorce between Koreans and Americans. They also slightly differed on what is most important in married life.

Sixty-three percent of the Korean respondents chose marriage as a must (21 percent) or ``better to marry`` (42 percent), but only 51 percent of Americans said marriage was a must (26 percent) or ``better to marry`` (25 percent). Some 33 percent of Koreans said, ``Not necessary to marry," and 2 percent said ``better not to marry.``

As for the reasons that make divorce acceptable, Koreans chose differences in character (65 percent), violence (65 percent), extramarital affairs (60 percent), falling out of love (37 percent) and habitual drinking (20 percent).

But Americans cited violence at 84 percent, extramarital affairs (74 percent), falling out of love (51 percent), habitual drinking (47 percent) and differences in character (31 percent).

Americans think spousal violence, extramarital affairs, drinking and lack of love are more important reasons for divorce, while Koreans take a more serious view of differences in character.

The number who cited sexual dissatisfaction as grounds for divorce was 12 percent in Korea and 14 percent in the United States. Fifteen percent of Koreans said that they would tolerate their spouse having an affair, while only 6 percent of Americans agreed.

As for having children while unmarried, 47 percent of Americans said they could accept it, while only 23 percent of Koreans agreed.

Na Sun-Mi, fellow at Dong-a Media Institute