South Korea Birth Rate

CNA  Insight examines  how Seoul's appeal is exacerbating South Korea's population crisis, as young talent migrates to the capital, leaving rural areas depopulated. This trend contributes to the nation's declining birth rate, particularly in the countryside, where schools and services are closing due to a lack of children. Despite government efforts to address the issue, including financial incentives and plans for a new population ministry, the imbalance continues, threatening the future of rural South Korea.

The Chosun Daily  reports on the rise in non-marital births in South Korea, which reached a record 4.7% in 2023. Despite this increase, South Korea's support for unmarried parents is minimal, especially compared to other countries like France, the UK, and the US, where non-marital births are common and supported by more inclusive policies. As South Korea grapples with a low fertility rate, there are growing calls to redefine family structures and reduce the stigma around single parenthood to alleviate the fertility crisis.

NIKKEI Asia  reports that the Bank of Korea links declining birth rates to South Korea's competitive university entrance exams, which drive families to concentrate in Seoul, raising education and housing costs. The bank suggests reforming admissions to ease financial pressures and encourage higher birth rates, warning that the current system exacerbates demographic challenges.

MENAFN article  suggests  that South Korea's ongoing gender imbalance, a result of a 30-year trend where more boys were born than girls due to cultural preferences for sons. This has led to an excess of 700,000 to 800,000 men now facing bleak marriage prospects, as there aren't enough women for them to marry. While the desire for sons has lessened, the long-term social issues related to this gender imbalance, particularly in the marriage market, will persist in South Korea for decades.

A New Zealand Herald article reports on a new initiative in Busan, where the city is offering up to $64,000 in cash incentives to singles who get married and have children. This initiative is part of a broader effort by South Korea to address its critically low birth rate, which has plummeted to 0.72 children per woman. Eligible singles in Busan can receive financial rewards at various stages of relationship progression, including $24,000 for marriage and up to $36,000 for housing. The program may expand to include foreign nationals in 2025 if successful.

Reuters (via MSN ) analysis piece on South Korea's ongoing struggle to address its declining birth rate, as many in their 20s and 30s prioritize immediate pleasures and personal aspirations over parenthood. Despite government incentives and plans to create a new ministry focused on demographic challenges, the "YOLO" mentality and high consumer spending among younger generations continue to undermine efforts to boost the nation's birth rate. Financial hardships and a preference for material well-being over family further complicate the situation.

The Diplomat   reports on Seoul's pilot project to import Filipino domestic workers, aimed at easing childcare burdens and addressing South Korea's plummeting birthrate. The program faces criticism over wage disputes, cultural differences, and the high cost of employing these workers, which may render it ineffective in boosting birth rates. Critics argue that the initiative reflects deeper issues in how Seoul addresses childcare and gender inequality, suggesting that the program alone is unlikely to reverse the city's demographic decline.

Fortune reports  ( archive ) on South Korean pizza startup Gopizza's rapid global expansion driven by South Korea's record low fertility rate, which is shrinking the domestic consumer market. With South Korea's birth rate at record lows, Gopizza founder Jay Lim recognized the need to grow beyond Korea's intensely competitive food sector. Gopizza has successfully expanded to India, Singapore, and is now targeting Indonesia and Thailand to sustain its growth.

The Chosun Daily   editorial  calls for urgent bipartisan action to address South Korea's low birth rate and population crisis. Political conflicts are delaying crucial legislation, including expanding parental leave and creating a new ministry focused on population strategies. The editorial urges both parties to compromise and prioritize these issues to prevent the nation's decline.

Carnegie Endowment for International Peace analyzes  the future of South Korea's cultural and economic marvel - and emphasizes that the birth rate issue poses a significant threat to its long-term global influence and leadership. In-demand soft power exports such as K-pop, K-dramas and K-culture in general were highlighted as facing uncertain prospects as the population ages and shrinks, resulting in challenges sustaining innovation and productivity.

The Korea Bizwire reports  that a senior presidential aide suggested that South Korea should consider accepting more foreign workers to address its declining working-age population amid a demographic crisis caused by the world's lowest birth rate, which hit 0.72 in 2023. The aide emphasized the need for a long-term strategy to integrate foreign workers and noted that without such measures, the country's population could decrease by 30% and face significant challenges.

JoongAng Daily proposes that universities can help address South Korea's birth rate crisis by improving employment opportunities through tailored education, reducing child-rearing burdens via AI technology, and easing the pressure of private education costs through more flexible college admissions. These changes aim to mitigate the intense competition that discourages marriage and childbirth.

Nikkei Asia argues  ( archive ) that South Korea faces a severe demographic crisis, with its population projected to halve by the century's end. Despite President Yoon's "national demographic emergency" declaration, South Korea lacks the comprehensive population planning seen in China, where demographic strategy is integrated into long-term economic goals. South Korea needs a sustainable, long-term demographic and economic strategy rather than simply establishing a new ministry.

Spectator opinion  piece argues that the global fertility rate is falling faster than expected, emphasizing South Korea as an extreme case. High real estate prices in Seoul and societal factors discourage larger families, despite government efforts like parental leave and tax credits. The article warns that without significant changes to support larger families, South Korea faces a severe demographic crisis - and that the world may soon follow.

Boston Consulting Group proposes how business can help South Korea boost it's lowest-in-the-world fertility rate. The declining working-age population threatens economic stability, prompting companies to offer financial incentives for childbirth and focus on work-life balance and parental support. Comprehensive policy measures, including tax incentives and childcare solutions, are needed alongside corporate efforts to address the crisis and sustain economic growth.

South Korean newspaper assesses South Korea's foreign housekeeper pilot program, designed to reduce childcare costs and boost the low birth rate, and is met with skepticism about its effectiveness. Despite potential financial relief, concerns include affordability, wage discrimination, and the program's failure to address deeper issues like inflexible working hours. Similar initiatives in Hong Kong and Singapore haven't increased birth rates, casting doubt on the program's impact.

Korea Bizwire reports that a Buddhist temple in South Korea hosted a successful matchmaking event as part of efforts to address the country's low birth rate, with 12 out of 20 participants finding matches. The event, organized by the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, attracted significant interest, highlighting the growing concern over South Korea's demographic challenges. The initiative, recognized by the government, is part of broader efforts to encourage marriage and boost birth rates.

The Korea Herald reports that Seoul plans on easing greenbelt development restrictions to address the city's housing needs, particularly for newlyweds, as part of efforts to tackle South Korea's low birth rate. By lifting restrictions in ecologically less valuable areas, the city aims to provide affordable housing for young couples, addressing population decline due to low birth rates. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to stabilize the housing market and support future generations.

CNA Insight program "Emptying Out of Rural South Korea" discusses the country's population crisis, focusing on how low birth rates and an aging population are causing rural areas to become deserted as opportunities and people concentrate in Seoul.

247WallSt covers a video discussion about the severe decline in birth rates in East Asian countries, particularly South Korea, and its potential long-term economic and societal impacts. They highlight how a shrinking population could burden the younger generation with supporting an aging population and lead to decreased innovation. The conversation delves into the causes of low fertility rates and the implications for future conflicts and economic stability in the region.

The Korea Herald reports  that South Korean men accounted for over 30% of parental leave takers in 2023, a first in the country's history. This increase, driven by enhanced government benefits and company policies, aims to combat the record-low fertility rate of 0.72 births per woman.

Chosun Daily  editorial  argues that South Korea, once a model of economic growth, is now facing challenges due to its extremely low birth rate and aging population. Economic growth has slowed, and necessary reforms in labor, education, and pensions are lagging. Political strife and populist policies have compromised fiscal responsibility, raising concerns about the country's future economic stability.

A  column discussing South Korea's record-low fertility rates, highlighting the government's struggles with ineffective policies and cultural issues such as gender inequality, work-life balance, and economic pressures, which hinder efforts to address the population decline.