



By Ko Dong-hwan







Seoul city is considering distributing condoms to high school students and selling them at city government office buildings next year to "promote safe sex," but the move has drawn widespread criticism.







The plan is to make condoms available from school nurses' offices and sell them through vending machines at city offices. The government said it is reacting to citizens' petitions filed at a recent exhibition that canvassed suggestions for better policies.







The measure is in the first draft of the city's "Human Rights Preliminary Plan for 2018-22" that is due for release early next year, according to the Chosun Ilbo.







But the plan has stirred some fierce opposition. A Catholic sex education researcher said: "What the students need is education about taking responsibility, not about protection during sex."







A parent of a middle school student said: "What is so different between the condom distribution at schools and suggesting them to have more sex? It could have been replaced by improving conventional sex education, not spending our taxes on showcasing condoms."







South Korean condom maker Eve Condom backed the proposal. It has installed condom dispensers at five places across Seoul, Daegu and Gwangju. The company CEO said students must be able to get easy access to condoms, referring to high schools in France that have condom vending machines.

