According to the research, which was based on a survey of 14,716 teenagers in middle and high schools, more teenagers were exposed to harmful media content like video games for those over age 19 and gambling in 2008 than the year before. -- ST PHOTO: LEE TEE JONG
A RECENT study revealed that at least one out of every three teenagers watched porn or visited websites with harmful content last year.
The study, released by South Korea's Ministry for Health, Welfare and Family Affairs on Monday, showed 37.3 per cent of teenagers watched adult videos and movies and 35.9 per cent of them visited harmful websites.
According to the research, which was based on a survey of 14,716 teenagers in middle and high schools, more teenagers were exposed to harmful media content like video games for those over age 19 and gambling in 2008 than the year before.
The percentage of teenagers that had experience in adult games saw the biggest increase, jumping to 44.1 per cent in 2008 from 35.5 per cent in 2007.
It was followed by teenagers involved in online gambling, which went up from 32 per cent in 2007 to 37 per cent in 2008, according to the research.
Eighty-one per cent of the teens who played harmful games responded that not only did they face difficulties in their academic studies and outdoor activities, but they also felt an urge for violence due to their exposure to such games,' said Mr Lee Suk-kyu, director of the child and youth protection division at the ministry. 'The largest portion of teenagers was first exposed to harmful media content when they were in seventh grade.'
The survey also said 3.7 per cent of them had sexual experiences and that 15 per cent of them have been involved in pregnancy.
The drinking rate was recorded at 53.7 per cent last year, climbing 7.1 percentage points from the year before. About 12 per cent said they drank more than one bottle of soju, the most commonly drank liquor here, per occasion, ministry officials said.
A rising number of teens - 12.8 per cent - stayed away from home without parental consent. Those that did so stayed away an average of 4.1 times, but more than half slept at their friend's houses, officials added.
As countermeasures, the ministry plans to extend the period when adult content is prohibited on television. It also plans to increase the number of sex education centres across the nation, from 29 in 2008 to 35 in 2009, to strengthen sex education and operate shelters for teenagers that offer recovery programmes for those who are troubled, ministry officials said. -- THE KOREA HERALD/ANN
