I am an 8th-grade student attending St. Johnsbury Academy Jeju, South Korea. Just like other South Korean students, I have everyday work to do, including incessant homework from school and academics.

I am here to argue the article “Opinion: Get off the Couch,” which was published on April 1. 

I do think exercise is important, but I believe it is not the priority when we are in our youth. I used to be someone who had endless cardiovascular endurance and enjoyed running around when I was in elementary school. As I got older, schoolwork became a priority for me, and I only exercised once a week. I have a different opinion about this article.

South Koreans generally have less time to exercise. The article “All study and no play makes Korean teens less physically active than their grandparents” stated only 14.6% of South Korean students exercise for 60 minutes or more than five days a week.

Because we are busy, as if one day is 48 hours, I strongly believe exercising for only 10 minutes a day is enough for middle, high and college students. The majority of South Korean students put their academics as their priority and they do not need to walk to the gym, same as I do. Even college students would focus on their future careers, and when they graduate from college, that is when they would start doing what they want.

Exercise could be done after we graduate from college. In order to get the job we want, school work should be the priority for us. We are free to do anything we want, including going to the gym after we graduate from college. Even though exercise is important, we should focus on our majors first. Postponing exercise until we get a job will be a better choice for us.

Songhyun Moon is a South Korean student attending an International school, who is in the last grade in middle school and preparing for high School.