By Yoon Ja-young
Staff Reporter
How many hours do you spend watching TV? According to Statistics Korea, senior citizens and those who have less education tend to spend more time in front of the tube.
It suggests that there is a lack of cultural and leisure activities available for senior citizens, low-income people and people in rural areas.
According to Statistics Korea, women watched 23.3 hours a week of television on average, three hours more than the average of 20.3 hours for men.
Among the different age groups, senior citizens aged 65 or older spent the most time watching TV, with the weekly average standing at 28.3. Those aged between 60 and 65 followed at 27.3 hours.
The level of education also came into play. Those with higher degrees tended to spend less time in front of the box. While college graduates were only in front of the screen 19.2 hours a week, those who only finished elementary school or dropped out of school early spent seven hours more.
Those working in agricultural or fisheries industries spent 21 hours watching TV, while professionals and those in managerial positions watched TV for 17.5 hours.
Unemployed or economically inactive people spent more time watching TV than those employed. They watched TV for 25.1 hours, while salaried workers spent 18.9 hours a week.
Income also factored. Those who made less than 500,000 won a month watched the most TV at 28.6 hours a week. Those making 6 million won or more watched TV for only 18.7 hours.
On Sundays and other holidays, however, different patterns emerged. Those who watched TV the most were middle-aged people working in manufacturing and other blue collar workers. Those working in agricultural or fisheries, meanwhile, didn't watch much TV over the holidays.