Seoulites in 20s enjoys culture most, but anxious

By Kwon Mee-yoo

Seoulites in their 20s are enthusiastically engaged in cultural activities, but feel insecure in their life, according to a survey by the Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture (SFAC).

The SFAC survey showed that Seoulites enjoy various cultural events during their 20s when they are single, center on child-rearing in their 30s and 40s and regain their cultural identity in their 50s.

According to a survey conducted by 2,904 people registered to the foundation's website, young people in their 20s are most interested in culture. They go to the movies and watch a play once a month, visit art exhibitions every other month, and participate in some 39.9 cultural activities spending 694,281 won a year.

However, the life satisfaction index for people in their 20s was just 70 points out of 100, which is considered low. The SFAC interpreted that these youngsters often comfort themselves through cultural interests.

For those in their 30s, women who remain single are referred to as a "Gold Miss" and are able to splurge 821,262 won on culture per year.

On the contrary, those who are married are less interested in culture, and occupied with childcare. Though they didn't enjoy much cultural events, their life satisfaction was high at 77.2 points.

Those in their 40s become even more family-centered and the SFAC labeled them as "friendy," a newly coined term of friend and daddy, and "culture mom." Their average expenditure on culture was increased, but mostly for their children.

Cho Sun-hee, CEO of SFAC, said, "Now we know each age bracket consumes culture in different ways. We will provide the best art and culture contents for each stratum based on the result."