STUDENTS at two South Korean universities are being offering courses that make it mandatory for them to date their classmates as the country battles to reverse one of the lowest birth rates in the world.
Seoul’s Dongguk and Kyung Hee universities say the courses on dating, sex, love and relationships target a generation which is shunning traditional family lives.
Many young people have given up on courtship, wedlock and childbirth because of economic pressures such as housing costs, unemployment and tuition fees.
The steep decline in marriage has given rise to the new term: the sampo generation.
Professor Jang Jae-sook, who founded a “Marriage and Family” course at Dongguk University, said students were being taught how to find the right partner and sustain healthy relationships.
Zelenskyy says peace deal is close after Trump meeting but territory remains sticking point
Lapsed Epstein deadline underscores challenge of reviewing troves of files in 30 days
Swalwell slammed by Border Patrol commander over imagery showing ICE raiding Jesus Christ’s manger
Netanyahu says Trump to become first non-Israeli to receive Israel Prize
Home Owned by NASCAR Star Denny Hamlin Destroyed in Deadly Blaze
Look for Times Square Crystal Ball To Do Something Different This Year As USA’s 250th Birthday Approaches
Illegal immigrants allegedly ran multi-million-dollar gift card fraud scheme hitting stores daily across Texas
Trump rebukes Ukraine after Putin says his home was attacked
Gen. Flynn Sends Blistering Request to Trump: ‘We The People Demand Accountability!’
Jan. 6 pipe bomb suspect fights DOJ delay in turning over evidence
Trump Admin Stands Firm After Jesus-Centric Christmas Messages Spark Media Freak-Out
Trump tears up Obama-era Latin American policy with renewal of Monroe Doctrine
Tennessee officers rescue woman considering jumping from bridge on day after Christmas
Ilhan Omar disclosures show husband’s companies surged in value as Minnesota reels from $9B fraud
Top Female Tennis Player Takes on No. 671 Man in ‘Battle of the Sexes’ – It Wasn’t Even Close
She said: ”Korea’s fall in population has made dating and marriage important but young Koreans are too busy these days and clumsy in making new acquaintances.”
And as part of the course, students have to date three classmates for a month each.
Homework includes going on dates and discussing scenarios such as jealousy and conflict.
Ms Jang designed the curriculum to include dating in the belief that learning from real-life experience is as important as studying theory.
She said: ”Korea’s fall in population has made dating and marriage important but young Koreans are too busy these days and clumsy in making new acquaintances.”
Zelenskyy says peace deal is close after Trump meeting but territory remains sticking point
Lapsed Epstein deadline underscores challenge of reviewing troves of files in 30 days
Swalwell slammed by Border Patrol commander over imagery showing ICE raiding Jesus Christ’s manger
Netanyahu says Trump to become first non-Israeli to receive Israel Prize
Home Owned by NASCAR Star Denny Hamlin Destroyed in Deadly Blaze
Look for Times Square Crystal Ball To Do Something Different This Year As USA’s 250th Birthday Approaches
Illegal immigrants allegedly ran multi-million-dollar gift card fraud scheme hitting stores daily across Texas
Trump rebukes Ukraine after Putin says his home was attacked
Gen. Flynn Sends Blistering Request to Trump: ‘We The People Demand Accountability!’
Jan. 6 pipe bomb suspect fights DOJ delay in turning over evidence
Trump Admin Stands Firm After Jesus-Centric Christmas Messages Spark Media Freak-Out
Trump tears up Obama-era Latin American policy with renewal of Monroe Doctrine
Tennessee officers rescue woman considering jumping from bridge on day after Christmas
Ilhan Omar disclosures show husband’s companies surged in value as Minnesota reels from $9B fraud
Top Female Tennis Player Takes on No. 671 Man in ‘Battle of the Sexes’ – It Wasn’t Even Close
And as part of the course, students have to date three classmates for a month each.
Homework includes going on dates and discussing scenarios such as jealousy and conflict.
Ms Jang designed the curriculum to include dating in the belief that learning from real-life experience is as important as studying theory.
The crude marriage rate – the annual number of marriages per 1,000 people – was 5.5 last year, compared with 295.1 when statistics began in 1970.
Seoul has spent about £50 billion trying to boost the birth rate.
Story cited here.
