A woman who wants to keep her virginity before marriage appeared on the SBS blind date program ‘Zzak’ last July. After broadcasting the program, netizens showed different reactions about her values. Some people had supportive reactions like, ‘She has noble values’, but others had negative reactions like, ‘The concept doesn't match with contemporary values’. People have different opinions about chastity before marriage, so let us get to know what they are.
  What is chastity before marriage? It means that men and women keep their virginity before marriage. However, this meaning is different depending on individual values. According to the results of a survey by a part-time job web site called ‘Albamon’ about ‘The sexual attitudes of university students’ which was responded to 715 university students in 2009, people answered a question about how people perceive chastity before marriage. 30.3% of respondents answered that chastity before marriage means managing oneself before marriage. Also, 16.6% of respondents said that this term is just outdated and meaningless. 9.8% of respondents said that it restrains only women.
  In addition, according to the question, ‘Would you be willing to have sex before marriage?’ 74.5% of respondents showed that it is possible (Men 78.7%, Women 70.6%). Most of them stated several reasons such as love or sex drive.
  Both men and women responded positively to having sex before marriage, but there is a movement to value chastity before marriage. For example, a virginity pledge ceremony is where people pledge to keep their virginity before marriage. It establishes a proper concept of sex. This ceremony is held in some schools and churches in Korea. These people are opposed to having sex before marriage because their religion prizes chastity or they want to prevent themselves from abortions and other unmarried mother issues.
  Chastity before marriage is controversial because people have different ideas about preserving virginity before marriage. Global View interviewed different opinions about it.

 

By Kang Hye-min | hm34@cbnu.ac.kr

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Let’s find about people’s opinions!
 
What do you think about keeping your virginity before marriage?
 
  Eric (America, Male) : Well first, I am a Christian. I think having sex before marriage is like playing a very dangerous game. There are 2 reasons for it. First, you are taking the risk of getting a sexually transmitted disease. Second, you are also taking a chance of getting a girl pregnant. So, I think preserving one’s virginity before marriage is good.
  Jung Ye-ji (Korea, Female) : I think sex is a basic human desire and a way of showing love. Feelings and actions of love, which experienced in a serious relationship before marriage, will make the person emotionally and physically mature. Therefore, I think sex can lead us to a happier marriage.
  Cindy (Philippines, Female) : Virginity is important. Especially when I marry a guy, I think that would be the best gift I can give to my future husband.
 
Do you get obsessed about whether your counterpart is a virgin?
 
  Eric (America, Male) : I’m a virgin, but will I marry a girl who isn’t a virgin? I don’t think I’m any better than anybody else because I am a virgin. This is just a choice that I made. So if I meet a girl who isn’t a virgin, as long as I’m in love with her and share our core beliefs, I will marry her.
  Jung Ye-ji (Korea, Female) : I’m not obsessed with my boyfriend’s virginity. However, if the sex was just for fun and a temporary pleasure, I would be offended by it.
  Cindy (Philippines, Female) : No. Last year, my boyfriend said to me that he’s not a virgin. When he said it to me, I was shocked. However, it doesn’t matter. I think most of the boys don’t care about if they are virgins or not in the Philippines.

Would you be willing to have sex if you really love your boyfriend or girlfriend?
 
  Eric (America, Male) : I think the temptation for sex would be really strong if I loved someone, but I would still want to wait until marriage. I think she would too because I don’t think I would marry someone who felt that differently about sex than I did.
  Jung Ye-ji (Korea, Female) : If I was sure about myself that I loved my boyfriend, had faith in our relationship, and had sufficient amount of knowledge, it could be possible for me to have sex.
  Cindy (Philippines, Female) : No, I prefer after getting married than before. For me, it is a different level between my boyfriend and my husband if I am getting married. So, I would not prefer to give my virginity before.