Low birth rate, a ‘structural problem’ linked to several social problems
On the 28th (local time), the BBC focused on Korea’s ‘population extinction’ problem. Through interviews with Korean women, it was analyzed that low birth rate is a structural problem caused by a combination of various social problems.
The BBC explained that despite the Korean government investing 379.8 trillion won over 20 years, the number of births continues to decrease, putting the country at risk of population extinction.
It was pointed out that the existing maternity benefits are limited and ineffective. The BBC reported that the recently proposed support for foreign nannies and military exemption for children with multiple children did not resolve the difficulties faced by young people.
◆Uncomfortable working environment
The BBC pointed out the excessive work environment. The rule is to work 8 hours a day, but most people suffer from overtime and do not even have personal time. The BBC wrote that in this situation, giving birth and raising children is a huge burden.
There are many young people who have no choice but to choose not to give birth. This is because housing and living costs have soared due to concentration in the metropolitan area, making it impossible to quit economic activities. Currently, the birth rate in Seoul is 0.55, the lowest in the country.
◆The cost of private education and the private education itself are burdened.
The BBC focused on the characteristics of a ‘private education republic’. Korea is the country with the most expensive child support in the world. Most families spend more than hundreds of thousands of won each month on private education.
On the other hand, only a few can afford it. According to a 2022 survey, 94% responded that the cost of private education was ‘burden’. However, it is an ironic situation that we cannot give up private education due to competition in education.
The BBC explained that, regardless of cost, the overheated education system itself is also the cause of the low birth rate. Young people who are tired of competition are giving up having children to avoid passing on pain.
An office worker in her 30s revealed the reason for giving up childbirth, saying, “I had to study my whole life just to live a normal life,” and “Korea is not a place where children can live happily.”
◆It is true that the burden on women is large.
The BBC viewed the anachronistic image of women as a ‘key factor’ in the low birth rate. Korea has achieved remarkable development over the past 50 years, and the rate of women in higher education and social activities has also increased rapidly. However, the ‘role of wife and mother’, who is solely responsible for childcare and household chores, remains the same.
The newspaper went on to describe the reality in which women suffer from career and social disruption due to childbirth and childcare. Because of the corporate culture that requires retirement upon childbirth, most primary caregivers (women) leave their jobs. As of 2022, the parental leave rate is 7% for men and 70% for women. The gender wage gap is the most severe among OECD countries.
◆Respect diversity
The BBC wrote that in order to overcome the low birth rate, Korea must accept more diverse types of families. As of 2020, the average out-of-wedlock birth rate in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) is 41.9%. On the other hand, Korea’s out-of-wedlock birth rate was only 2% in 2022.
Furthermore, Korea restricts pregnancy and childbirth, including prohibiting unmarried women from using sperm banks. The media pointed out the irony that despite experiencing a serious population crisis, people are unable to have children.
◆Population measures are urgently needed… Government must watch
The BBC reported that Korean society has recognized the seriousness of the situation, with President Yoon Seok-yeol recently announcing a plan to restructure the low birth rate policy. The newspaper concluded that it remains to be seen what happens next.
Last year, Korea’s total fertility rate in the fourth quarter was 0.65, so population measures are urgently needed. There was a decrease of 0.05 people compared to the previous year, and the 0.7 person line collapsed for the first time. The future outlook is even bleaker. Last December, Statistics Korea’s ‘Future Population Projection: 2022-2072’ predicted 220,000 births in 2025 and 160,000 in 2072. The National Statistical Office predicted that in the worst case scenario, the number of births in 2072 could fall to 90,000.
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.