Women wash their hands three times more than men do per day. According to a recent survey by the Health and Welfare Ministry, Koreans wash their hands an average 8.5 times per day ㅡ women 9.9 times and men seven times.
The survey was conducted on a sample of 1,500 over the age of 14. In a 2006 survey, women washed their hands 7.6 times, while men did 7.1 times.
The ministry attributed the increase to the H1N1 influenza that hit the world last year.
By age, the latest survey showed those in their 50s were the most hygienic, washing their hands 9.9 times per day. Those in their teens and 20s washed them the least. About 37 percent of those surveyed, the largest portion, said that it took about six to 10 seconds to wash their hands.
In a separate survey, the ministry found that three out of four people washed their hands after using public bathrooms. The survey checked those who used public restrooms in bus terminals and parks in the country's seven largest cities.