By Kim Eunji

Can “friendships” exist between men and women? More than 50 percent of singles answered ‘no’ in a survey conducted by the Gayeon Marriage Consulting Agency.

Of 300 respondents, 59 percent of males and 55 percent of females said those from opposite genders cannot be friends.

The survey, however, shed light on people’s differing views on general and romantic partners.

Although about 40 percent of respondents said friendship between genders exists, only 8 percent of males and 4 percent of females said they would allow their romantic partners to meet alone with ones from an opposite gender.

Thirty-six percent of males said they would permit “contacting the friend once in a while.” Thirty percent answered their girlfriends are not allowed to have a male friend, while 26 percent replied that girlfriends are free to meet their friends but not alone.

Females had a different view on their boyfriends’ female friends. About 37 percent said: “It is okay to see the friend as long as they are not alone.” Thirty-one percent answered their partner can contact the friend from time to time, whereas 28 percent replied their partners should not have any female friends.

The writer is a Korea Times intern.