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.
A cure for cancer would deliver $185T economic windfall, report says
Minnesota taxpayers on the hook for race-based teacher recruitment
US conducts strike on another boat carrying suspected narco-traffickers, killing 6 people
Pennsylvania state trooper fatally shot during traffic stop, officials say
Before-and-after satellite imagery offers a rare look at damage inside Iran
Police recover third device in ongoing Manhattan IED investigation after two arrests
Police swarm NYC street Sunday amid IED probe near Gracie Mansion
GOP senators push back against Schumer’s ‘Jim Crow 2.0’ description of SAVE Act
NYPD confirms object thrown at protests near Gracie Mansion in Manhattan was an IED
Officials confirm devices recovered at NYC protest near Gracie Mansion were both IEDs
Pro-Islam counterprotester arrested after deploying explosive device outside Mamdani residence
Trump warns Iran’s new leader won’t ‘last long’ without his approval
Air Force veteran warns ‘cartels don’t collapse — they fracture’ after notorious drug lord killed
The unlikely tool Trump is eyeing to tackle rising oil prices amid the Iran conflict
Trump’s Name Will Be on the Tallest Tower in Australia as Trump’s Company Makes International Real Estate Move
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.”
A cure for cancer would deliver $185T economic windfall, report says
Minnesota taxpayers on the hook for race-based teacher recruitment
US conducts strike on another boat carrying suspected narco-traffickers, killing 6 people
Pennsylvania state trooper fatally shot during traffic stop, officials say
Before-and-after satellite imagery offers a rare look at damage inside Iran
Police recover third device in ongoing Manhattan IED investigation after two arrests
Police swarm NYC street Sunday amid IED probe near Gracie Mansion
GOP senators push back against Schumer’s ‘Jim Crow 2.0’ description of SAVE Act
NYPD confirms object thrown at protests near Gracie Mansion in Manhattan was an IED
Officials confirm devices recovered at NYC protest near Gracie Mansion were both IEDs
Pro-Islam counterprotester arrested after deploying explosive device outside Mamdani residence
Trump warns Iran’s new leader won’t ‘last long’ without his approval
Air Force veteran warns ‘cartels don’t collapse — they fracture’ after notorious drug lord killed
The unlikely tool Trump is eyeing to tackle rising oil prices amid the Iran conflict
Trump’s Name Will Be on the Tallest Tower in Australia as Trump’s Company Makes International Real Estate Move
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.
