89.9 percent of the male respondents and 77.2 percent of the female respondents answered that they wished Valentine’s Day would go away. (image: Kobiz Media / Korea Bizwire)
SEOUL, Feb. 13 (Korea Bizwire) — Although Valentine’s Day has in the past been celebrated in Korea with enthusiasm, it appears that young Koreans are starting to get fed up with all the troubles they have to go through to enjoy the holiday.
According to a survey conducted by matchmaking services firm DUO on 542 single men and women in their twenties and thirties, 89.9 percent of the male respondents and 77.2 percent of the female respondents answered that they wished Valentine’s Day would go away.
It seems that the respondents were especially worried about getting the right gifts for their partners on Valentine’s Day, since 66.1 percent of men and 70.5 percent of women said that they felt pressured to come up with nice gift ideas.
Among the worried respondents, 37 percent of men answered that they were stressed out over impressing their partner with a surprise party, while 28.8 percent worried about the cost of gifts.
Many female respondents also had budget stress, as 36.8 percent answered that the cost of gifts was preventing them from enjoying Valentine’ Day for what it is, and 30.5 percent of women answered that they had a hard time figuring out who they were supposed to give chocolates to according to social norms.
Male respondents spent an average of 86,000 won to buy gifts, while female respondents spent 116,000 won on average. Chocolates were the preferred gift idea among men and women.
By J. W. Choi (summerchoi@koreabizwire.com)
