South Koreans Are Spending Too Much Time Sitting Due To Long Work Hours

by Ma Elena Garcia / Jan 12, 2016 12:08 PM EST

One of Asia's most affluent countries, South Korea, is the region's third largest economy with he longest working hours in the world. (Photo by Ed Jones / Getty Images)

The Korean government released its latest data on Monday, claiming that civilians spend too much time sitting and make very minimal effort to exercise.

One such experience is that of Han Jin Hee (not her real name), an office worker in Seoul. Han reportedly spends eight hours a day sitting in the office. About six months ago, she moved to another office where she was required to stand most of the time while doing work.

Contrary to the information on abc.net alleging that we need to sit less to offset harmful impacts, the 28-year-old told The Korea Herald that ever since she moved to her current office, she had been experiencing indigestion as well as bloating.

"I've also been gaining weight, especially around my belly," Han said.

South Korea is reportedly known for its long working hours. In 2014, a report from the Organization For Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) indicated that South Koreans ranked as the second country that implements that longest working hours among other OECD nations.

Civlians approximately spend 2,124 hours for work, which were 354 more than the 1,770 hours required by the OECD standards.

According to the Health and Welfare Ministry and the Korean Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a single South Korean sits down for about 7.5 hours a day, as reported by The Korea Herald.

South Koreans living in cities and those earning high incomes are the most affected by the health risks. Those aged between 19 and 28 spend 8.7 hours sitting while those in their 30's spend 7.6 hours. Meanwhile those in their 60s reportedly spend 7.1 hours sitting.

A 2009 study published in the British Journal of Sports and Medicine suggested that sitting down for a long period of time causes harmful health effects that cannot be counteracted by a 30-minute workout.

Additionally, Live Science noted that too much sitting can increase the risk of insulin resistance and lower cardiovascular function. High blood sugar levels, depression, obesity as well as Type 2 diabetes are also linked with too much sitting. This is because when one sits, the leg and trunk muscles are inactive hence sugar and fats build up in the blood.

Conversely, the data also indicated that 41.3 percent of South Koreans walked for at least 30 minutes a day for five days a week, hence leading healthy lifestyles.