I read somewhere on the net that British Journal of Urology (Volume 83, Supplement 1, January 1999) has published a special issue dedicated to circumcision in the beginning of 1999. It is reported to contain an article on Korean circumcision. According to it, most Korean males get circumcised in their "pre-teens, teens and 20's." It is said to have become popular only during the past 50 years, but nowadays over 95% of Korean males are circumcised by their 20s, mostly just before or just after puberty
(age 10-13 is most common). The authors say it is from the American influence, but also say that doctors are in
favor.
Extract from BJU January 2000
Pang MG, Kim DS.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the high circumcision rate in South Korea and its rapid increase in the short period since its introduction.
SUBJECTS AND METHODS: From January to December 2000, 5434 South Korean males (or their parents) aged 0-92 years were interviewed in detail about their circumcision status, their age at circumcision, and the possible effect of circumcision on their sexuality. In addition, 267 practicing medical doctors were surveyed.
RESULTS: Currently the circumcision rate for high-school boys is > 90% and for those over 70 years old is < 10%. The circumcision rate in 1945 was < 0.1%. When averaged over the whole population, the present South Korean circumcision rate is approximately 60%; the rate has increased dramatically with time and particularly in the past 20 years, when the estimated number of male circumcisions has exceeded the number of male births. Although circumcision in South Korea has been strongly influenced by American culture, it has never been predominantly neonatal. The age at circumcision has continued to decrease and boys are now circumcised at approximately 12 years old.
Of the doctors who were surveyed, 41% carried out circumcision but, unlike in America, gynaecologists and paediatricians rarely did so.
CONCLUSION: South Korea has an unusual history of circumcision.
Note the distinctive Gomco line in photo.
Extraordinarily high rates of male circumcision in
South Korea:
history and underlying causes.
Pang MG, Kim DS.
GenDix, Inc., Seoul, South Korea.
...
SUBJECTS AND METHODS: From January to December 2000, 5434 South
Korean males (or their parents) aged 0-92 years were interviewed in
detail about their circumcision status, their age at circumcision, and
the possible effect of circumcision on their sexuality. ...
RESULTS: Currently the circumcision rate for high-school boys is > 90% and for those > 70 years old is < 10%. The circumcision rate in 1945 was < 0.1%. .
Circumcision in South Korea is interesting for several reasons:
Circumcision itself was almost unknown in South Korea before before the US trusteeship, 1945-48, and the heavy US involvement in the Korean War; 1950-53. Older men report not having heard of it (except in a biblical context) before then. It seems an inescapable conclusion that it was adopted because of US cultural influence. It is reported to have greatly increased in the 1960s, with many articles in newspapers promoting it. Since then it has become almost universal. An estimated 14 million South Korean men are now circumcised. Circumcision of adults currently makes the circumcision rate higher than the birthrate! The main reasons given by the 480 circumcised men for having it done were medical (41%), peer pressure (26%), and claims of sexual benefits (16%), including prevention of premature ejaculation (a reason seldom offered in the US) and a bigger appearing penis.
Apparently this late age for circumcision compared to the rest of the world persists (as does the operation itself) just by force of habit. It has come to be accepted by Korean boys as a rite of passage to manhood. Circumcision is widely believed by South Koreans to be universal in the world (192 out of 194 men asked thought it was) or even compulsory.
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