In a country still steeped in Confucian traditions and values, many men often refuse to use condoms in their intimate relationships, leaving their female partners to often bear much of the blame for not preventing unintended pregnancies and STIs.
A 2021 survey by the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs, which surveyed 2,500 adults, revealed that a mere 18 percent of men have no qualms about using condoms, one of the lowest rates among developed countries. As reasons for not using them, most respondents cited inconvenience, discomfort, and reduced pleasure.
Yet health experts stress that condoms are the only contraceptive method that provides dual protection. The World Health Organization (WHO) also states on its website, "Condoms, when used correctly and consistently, are among the most effective methods of preventing most [STIs] including HIV and unplanned pregnancies and the only method of contraception that can do both."
Many health professionals agree that the use of condoms in sexual relationships is considered an ideal option, particularly as women are biologically more susceptible to certain diseases. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recognizes that women are more prone to STIs than men due to anatomical factors and the risk of transmitting STIs to babies.
But many women express difficulty in persuading their male partners to use condoms. "Almost all of my patients say their partners refuse to wear condoms. I hear that all the time," said Yang Ki-yeol, an ob-gyn at Trinity Women's Clinic in southern Seoul. "Women may consider taking birth control pills to prevent pregnancy, but that doesn't effectively prevent the spread of STIs," Yang added.
HIV cases have also risen among young women by nearly 15 percent over the past decade. While men still account for the majority of HIV infections, the proportion of female infections has steadily increased, from 7.7 percent to 10.1 percent during the same period.
Experts point to cultural norms as the reason behind the low usage of condoms, unlike in the U.S., where condoms are widely used and often included in campus health kits as part of safer sex supplies.
Most ads for contraceptives here are often skewed toward options available to women such as birth control pills, intrauterine devices (IUDs), and hormonal implants.
Commercials for condoms are rarely seen on television or other platforms, as they are classified as medical devices rather than pharmaceutical products, which are subject to stricter advertising regulations, requiring approval from multiple health-related agencies such as the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety and the Korea Communications Commission.
The last and only television ad for condoms in South Korea, for example, was by the British brand "Durex," which aired briefly in 2013.
By contrast, over-the-counter drugs like hormonal medications or morning-after pills for women face fewer restrictions in terms of marketing and advertising. Whether intended or not, these underlying factors may lead to a notion that contraception is primarily a woman's responsibility.
Some scholars suggest that power dynamics exist even within romantic relationships, rather than it being simply a matter of wearing a condom or not. They say some men may feel empowered by refusing to wear a condom.
"In a traditionally patriarchal society like South Korea, a power imbalance between men and women still appears to exist, even in sexual relationships. This should be taken into account when interpreting behaviors like men's refusal to wear condoms, which can be seen as an exercise of their innate power or an attempt to exert dominance over their partners," said Yang Hyun-ah, a law professor at Seoul National University.
She also urged that the burden of contraception be addressed in line with both cultural and social changes, such as increasing public awareness that contraception is not something women alone should handle, while revising relevant regulations and encouraging the use of condoms for safe sex.
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