Korean students were less happy than their peers in China and Japan, while they had the highest sense of gender equality, a three-nation survey found Sunday.

According to the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, the survey ― the third of its kind ― questioned on Oct. 4, 597 middle and high school students of Korea, China and Japan on their values in eight areas including family, job, school and patriotism.

In the survey, only 71 percent of Korean students said they were currently happy, the lowest compared to 92.3 percent of Chinese and 75.7 percent of Japanese.

The Korean figure, however, showed a steady increase from 65.9 percent in 2007 and 69.2 percent in 2008.

Korean students also showed the worst satisfaction with their after-school activities as they may spend most of their spare time studying, the ministry said.

The percentage of those who predicted that the issue of being outcast at school would get worse was highest in Korean students with 62.2 percent, while 56.7 percent of Japanese and 36 percent of Chinese responded so.

About their awareness of gender equality, however, Korean students showed the highest level, the ministry said.

About the gender stereotype that “a husband makes money while a wife takes care of house and kids,” only 28.8 percent of Korean students agreed, more than half the 57.7 percent of Japanese students. The Chinese figure was 35.9 percent.

Most students in all three countries recognized the importance of family. However, Korean students showed the least satisfaction with family relations.

Despite its slowing trend in recent years, many Korean students still considered parents’ financial support for their marriage a necessity. Asked if parents should pay for their marriage expense, 79.4 percent of Chinese students said no, while the figures of Japanese and Koreans were 74.7 percent and 65.3 percent, respectively.

Regarding their career, most students in the three countries regarded it as important.

Seven in 10 Korean students said they had clear life goals, while 88.9 percent of Chinese and 54.9 percent of Japanese said so.

While 97.5 percent of Chinese students said they were optimistic about their future employment, Korean and Japanese figures were 80.8 percent and 55.7 percent, respectively.

Reflecting the current high rate of youth unemployment, only 26.8 percent of Korean students were “strongly” sure about employment, a decrease from 38.5 percent in 2008.

In case of national emergency, more than 80 percent of Chinese students said they would do anything for their country. There was a huge difference with Koreans with 48 percent and Japanese with 23 percent.

By Lee Ji-yoon (jylee@heraldcorp.com)