Tired Koreans... 95 out of 100 Say They Don't Feel Refreshed in the Morning

"Experienced Sleep Problems" 80%
Number of Patients Treated for Sleep Disorders Up 28.5% in 4 Years

A survey revealed that 95% of Koreans do not feel refreshed after sleep. It also showed that the actual average sleep duration of Koreans is somewhat shorter compared to other countries.

According to the results of 'Sleep Census 2023' released by the global mattress brand Sealy on the occasion of World Sleep Day on the 15th, a survey conducted on 2,003 Koreans found that 95% of respondents answered that they have experienced not feeling refreshed in the morning and feeling like they did not get enough rest.

The company has been conducting sleep-related surveys every five years. Last year, it surveyed 20,000 people across 10 countries including Korea, the UK, Australia, China, and Hong Kong.

In this survey, 48% of Korean respondents answered that their average sleep time was 4 to 6 hours, the highest proportion. Those who slept 7 to 8 hours accounted for 47%. Compared to global respondents, where 53% reported sleeping 7 to 8 hours and 41% reported 4 to 6 hours, Koreans tend to have shorter sleep durations. Generally, the recommended sleep duration for adults is 7 to 9 hours.

Forty-one percent of respondents reported experiencing back pain after sleep. By gender, 37% of men and 44% of women reported this. By age group, respondents aged 35 to 49 had the highest rate at 50%. When asked if they had experienced problems before falling asleep or during sleep, 80% answered "yes."

Koreans’ sleep problems can also be confirmed through data from the National Health Insurance Service. According to last year’s National Health Insurance Service medical data, the number of people treated for sleep disorders increased by 28.5% over four years, from about 855,000 in 2018 to about 1,098,819 in 2022. The medical expenses per patient with sleep disorders also increased by 45.4% to 259,490 KRW. Sleep disorders collectively refer to various sleep-related diseases such as insomnia, sleep-related breathing disorders, hypersomnia, circadian rhythm sleep disorders, and sleep-related movement disorders.

Since sleep is directly linked to physical and mental health, it lowers overall quality of life. If sleep disorders persist for a long time, they can cause headaches, depression, and anxiety symptoms, and also affect cognitive abilities such as concentration, memory, and judgment.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.