<#281Editorial>

 

Ethical constraints on sexuality and education have relaxed considerably in the 21st Century. Traditional moral opinions on sex have been reduced to a minor point in our society. Virginity has become a matter of personal choice instead of a compulsory requirement, as does extramarital affairs, homosexuality, and premarital intercourse. A survey conducted a few years ago showed that newly married couples would not make a big issue even when they find out their spouse is not virgin. It is reported that three fourth of collegians willingly tolerate premarital intercourse. In college, it is not difficult to find campus couples sharing the same living space. Twenty percent of high school girls reportedly confessed their willingness to have sexual intercourse with boys. Soon, virginity will find its place in antique shops, if the trend continues like this. Homosexuals and trans-genders no longer raise eyebrows. Liberation of sex in every aspect appears to be the coming trend. Many factors have played a role in this liberation; for example, value transformation to post-modernism, proliferation of internet media, expansion of individual human rights, etc.

The consequences of sexual liberation are alarming. The first alarming trend is about abortion. Thirty percent of girls who engage in intercourse before marriage are reported to have experienced abortion. Anti-abortion activist groups tell that 1.5~2.0 million cases of abortion take place every year in Korea. It is estimated that 2.5 babies get aborted for every baby delivered. Fifty two percent of married wives reported having an abortion. The primary reason (42.3%) for the high abortion rate is to avoid the burden of an unwanted baby. Many could have been saved if proper action were taken prior to intercourse.

The second trend is about sexual crimes. Among the top twelve OECD countries, Korea ranks second in terms of sexual crime rate. The number of sexual criminal cases is on the rise, and strikingly, the offender's age is getting younger while the offenses get more violent. New categories of sexual crimes and sexual harassment are introduced and unwittingly committed. Laws and regulations that worked to curb sexual crimes previously have become obsolete. New regulations are debated. Among the many factors responsible for such a high sexual crime rate, we should take into account lingering male chauvinism. Male chauvinists treat women not as fellow human beings but as sexual targets. Not only are those individuals, such as the congressman Choi Yeon-hee (who was expelled from the political party for sexually harassing a presswoman last year but become reelected this year) are still visible around us but the mentality of rape myth is easy to spot among male populations. The rape myth is the belief that a rape victim is also responsible for inviting the hideous crime. Men with strong rape myths are likely to commit sexual harassment and violent sexual crimes against women.

Taking into account the fact that unreported sex crimes outweigh reported crimes by several times, there is no time to lose anymore. We must educate students properly regarding proper sexual conduct during their school years. Practical courses for sex education must be developed and it should be required even as a compulsory class before graduation. Sex liberation is deadly if pursued without responsibility and knowledge.