South Korea is grappling with one of the lowest birth rates in the world, currently at 0.75 children per woman, which is significantly below the 2.1 children required to maintain its population. This demographic challenge has prompted the government to implement a series of initiatives aimed at reversing the trend. With projections indicating that the country's population could shrink to 36.22 million by 2072, the urgency for effective solutions has never been greater.
The situation is particularly dire in Seoul, where the birth rate languishes at an alarming 0.58 percent. As the capital continues to experience this demographic crisis, it reflects broader national trends. The proportion of children under 10 is the smallest in history, accounting for just 6.13 percent of the population. In contrast, individuals in their 50s represent a substantial 17 percent, underscoring an aging society that concerns policymakers.
The root causes of South Korea's declining birth rate are complex and multifaceted. Despite boasting one of the highest levels of education among young people, many face challenges in balancing work and family life due to corporate demands for extensive qualifications and experience — commonly referred to as "specs." Additionally, South Korea has one of the longest workweeks among OECD nations, averaging nearly 36 hours per week, which further complicates the ability to start a family.
Since 2006, the government has invested over 360 trillion won (approximately $270 billion) in various pro-family programs, including childcare subsidies and cash payments to new parents. As of 2022, parents receive a cash incentive of two million won (about $1,510) upon the birth of a child. In a bid to encourage marriage and childbirth, Seoul has announced plans to grant newlywed couples one million won ($685) upon registering their marriage in the city.
Despite these efforts, the birth rate fell dramatically in recent years, dropping to the 300,000s in 2017 and plunging into the 200,000s by 2020. However, there are signs of slow recovery; the birth rate rose to 0.75 in 2024 after hitting an all-time low of 0.72 in the previous year, and registered births nationwide increased slightly from 235,000 to over 240,000 last year.
Experts emphasize that the decline in births is not merely a result of economic factors or government policies. Cho highlights a deeper societal issue: “But the most important issue is the fact that the percentage of people in South Korean society who are able to plan or envision their lives in a stable manner is so low.” He argues that without a stable outlook on life, individuals are less likely to marry or have children.
Park Hyun-jung adds that there has been a noticeable shift in social values regarding marriage and childbirth: “There was a change in social value, with more positive views about marriage and childbirth.” However, she also cautions that it is challenging to ascertain how much impact each initiative has had on increasing birth rates: “It is difficult to measure how much each factor contributed to the rise in new births, but they themselves had an impact on each other, too.”
Cho further elaborates on the longstanding trend of declining births: “The number of births in the 1990s hovered around 600,000 to 700,000 births a year, but this number just plummets when we go into the 2000s.” As South Korea’s demographic landscape continues to evolve, experts warn of impending social challenges if these trends persist. “We need to prepare for the various social changes and problems that will arise with this steep decline in population,” urges Cho.
In response to these challenges, the government has implemented measures intended to support families. These include increasing parental leave allowances, introducing flexible work hours, and providing subsidies for employers who hire temporary replacements for employees on parental leave. Such initiatives aim not only to ease the burden on working parents but also to create an environment conducive to family growth.
Despite these measures and recent improvements in birth rates, significant obstacles remain. Young people continue to face pressures stemming from economic uncertainties and workplace demands that can deter them from starting families. The declining number of economically active youth indicates that addressing this issue will require long-term strategies that encompass more than just financial incentives.
