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.
DOJ Reportedly Appealing Ruling That Limits Feds’ Ability to Use Notorious Spy Tool
Homeowner Uses Shovel to Defend His Pregnant Wife and Child from Would-Be Intruder
House Hearing Witnesses Reveal How Hardworking Families Pay Higher Taxes
California regulators kill charity fireworks for America’s 250th, sparking outrage
8 children dead in mass shooting that began as domestic dispute, police say
Christian in Egypt Faces Terrorism Charges for Simply Declaring His Faith in Jesus in Legal Docs: Report
Feds arrest Iranian woman at LAX for allegedly brokering weapons sales for Islamic regime
Trump ally diGenova tapped to lead DOJ probe into Brennan over Russia probe origins
Texas AG Paxton Launches Probe Into Lululemon for Allegedly Exposing Customers to Harmful Chemicals in Clothing
This Airline Celebrated as an Unruly Passenger Was Put Behind Bars
Cold case breakthrough solves teen killing after suspect lived free for decades: ‘Better be afraid’
Hundreds of activists face pepper spray in violent clash with deputies at Wisconsin beagle research facility
Trump renews bridge, power plant threat against Iran in push for deal, mocks ‘tough guy’ IRGC
Voters Attack Back in Missouri: Council Members in Multiple Towns Electorally Whacked as Fed-Up Voters Send Blunt Message
Vance says he’s ‘grateful’ for Pope Leo’s statement on not wanting public debate with Trump
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.”
DOJ Reportedly Appealing Ruling That Limits Feds’ Ability to Use Notorious Spy Tool
Homeowner Uses Shovel to Defend His Pregnant Wife and Child from Would-Be Intruder
House Hearing Witnesses Reveal How Hardworking Families Pay Higher Taxes
California regulators kill charity fireworks for America’s 250th, sparking outrage
8 children dead in mass shooting that began as domestic dispute, police say
Christian in Egypt Faces Terrorism Charges for Simply Declaring His Faith in Jesus in Legal Docs: Report
Feds arrest Iranian woman at LAX for allegedly brokering weapons sales for Islamic regime
Trump ally diGenova tapped to lead DOJ probe into Brennan over Russia probe origins
Texas AG Paxton Launches Probe Into Lululemon for Allegedly Exposing Customers to Harmful Chemicals in Clothing
This Airline Celebrated as an Unruly Passenger Was Put Behind Bars
Cold case breakthrough solves teen killing after suspect lived free for decades: ‘Better be afraid’
Hundreds of activists face pepper spray in violent clash with deputies at Wisconsin beagle research facility
Trump renews bridge, power plant threat against Iran in push for deal, mocks ‘tough guy’ IRGC
Voters Attack Back in Missouri: Council Members in Multiple Towns Electorally Whacked as Fed-Up Voters Send Blunt Message
Vance says he’s ‘grateful’ for Pope Leo’s statement on not wanting public debate with Trump
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.
