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Philips Korea releases sleep awareness survey
Sleep satisfaction only 28.8%
“Snoring leads to separate bedrooms” — 51.6%

Even though many Koreans consider sleep the most important factor in maintaining good health, fewer than 30% say they are satisfied with their sleep. In particular, more than half of couples are reportedly sleeping in separate rooms due to sleep-related issues such as snoring and sleep apnea. Experts say the issue is expanding beyond personal health and increasingly affecting family relationships and overall quality of life, becoming a broader social concern.

Philips Korea announced the results of its “National Survey on Sleep Habits and Awareness of Sleep Apnea” on March 5 ahead of World Sleep Day on March 13. The survey was conducted in partnership with Korea Research and included 800 adult respondents nationwide as well as 201 users of Philips CPAP devices.

The results show that Koreans place a very high value on sleep health.
36.4% of respondents selected sleep as the most important factor for maintaining health, ahead of diet management (35.7%) and regular exercise (27.8%). In addition, about 90% of respondents said sleep is essential for both physical and mental health.

However, only 28.8% reported being satisfied with their sleep. Meanwhile, 70.4% said they experience discomfort during sleep.
The most common issue reported was insomnia (25.9%), followed by snoring (24.8%) and sleep apnea (9.1%).

In other words, although most Koreans recognize the importance of sleep, many are not actually getting a good night’s rest.

Sleep problems are not only affecting individual health but are also creating tension within households. One notable finding in the survey was the growing phenomenon of “sleep divorce,” where couples choose to sleep in separate rooms.

Among respondents who live with someone, 41.5% said their partner’s sleep habits affect their relationship. More than half (51.6%) said they had experienced sleeping separately from their partner in order to improve sleep quality.

Snoring was identified as a major cause of relationship strain. Snoring is not simply an annoying noise—it is often a warning sign of sleep apnea, a condition caused by airway obstruction during sleep. Despite this, many people remain passive about treatment.

Among respondents who reported snoring, 53.5% said they had never attempted any form of treatment. Even those who tried to address the issue mainly relied on supportive measures such as weight loss or reducing alcohol consumption (27.8%) or nasal rinsing (15.7%).

Experts warn that untreated sleep apnea can lead to serious complications including chronic fatigue, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and depression. Because sleep apnea occurs during sleep, patients often do not recognize the condition themselves.

According to the survey, most people became aware of sleep apnea through their partners rather than by themselves.
37.6% said their partner noticed abnormal breathing during sleep, while 25.5% realized the problem after their severe snoring disturbed their partner’s sleep.

Park Do-hyun, Head of Sleep and Respiratory Care at Philips Korea, emphasized:
“Severe snoring from a partner should not be dismissed as simple noise. Early diagnosis through sleep studies and proper treatment such as CPAP therapy are crucial, and family members’ careful observation and encouragement play a key role.”

In fact, active treatment significantly improved satisfaction for both patients and their partners. In a survey of 205 CPAP users, 91.7% reported improved sleep quality after treatment, and 88.2% said they disturbed their partner’s sleep less after starting therapy.

A Philips representative stated,
“Sleep apnea is no longer just an individual problem—it is a health issue that affects families as a whole. We will continue to support people in achieving better sleep and healthier lives through innovative technology.”

Source: 한국경제 (hankyung.com)