South Korea Birth Rate

The Straits Times reports that South Korea is launching the Great Train eXpress (GTX), a high-speed train service aimed at reducing commute times between Seoul and its outskirts, with the hope of encouraging more young people to move outside the capital and start families. However, some analysts warn that this could lead to further depopulation of rural areas unless similar infrastructure is developed there.

Nextshark reports  that marriages in South Korea have dropped by 40% over the past decade. This decline, driven by financial constraints and changing attitudes towards marriage, has contributed to a record-low fertility rate of 0.72, significantly below the replacement level. The trend raises concerns about the sustainability of South Korea's social welfare systems and economic growth. The government, recognizing the severity of the issue, is urged to address these underlying challenges to reverse the trend.