The South Korean government announced a plan titled “Measures to Reverse the Low Birth Rate Trend” on June 19, setting a goal to restore the birth rate to above one child per woman by 2030. President Yoon Suk-yeol officially declared a “National Population Emergency” and committed to a nationwide, comprehensive response until the low birth rate issue is resolved. He referenced the rapid decline of ancient Sparta due to population decreases as a cautionary example.
Ju Hyeong-hwan, the Vice Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Aging Society and Population Policy, highlighted that for the first time since Korea’s liberation from Japanese rule, South Korea’s population of children aged 0-4 is smaller than North Korea’s. As of 2021, South Korea had 1.65 million children in this age group, compared to North Korea’s 1.7 million.
The current low birth rate situation in South Korea is considered more severe than a “national emergency.” Last year, South Korea’s total fertility rate dropped to 0.72, down from 0.78 the previous year, making it the only country among the 38 OECD member states with a fertility rate below 1.0. This year, the birth rate is likely to hit an unprecedented 0.6. Given these circumstances, there is widespread agreement that every possible measure must be taken to prevent further population decline.
The government’s announcement reflects a deep sense of urgency. They plan to rename the ministry in charge of addressing the low birth rate to the “Population Strategy Planning Department.” This department, led by a minister, will develop long-term national development strategies encompassing low birth rates, an aging society, and immigration policies. Additionally, they aim to increase the current male parental leave usage rate from 6.8% to 50% during the current presidential term and raise parental leave pay from 1.5 million won to up to 2.5 million won per month. Housing policies will prioritize new parents, increasing the supply of housing units for families with newborns from 70,000 to 120,000. Child tax credits will also be expanded by an additional 100,000 won per child.
The government believes it has proposed nearly all possible measures to combat the low birth rate, but there are concerns about whether these measures will be enough to change the minds of young people. One notable omission from the plan is policies regarding childbirth outside of marriage. While South Korea’s rate of out-of-wedlock births is only 2.5%, the OECD average is 42%. There is also a need for strategies to adapt to a society with sustained low birth rates, but no such measures were included in the announcement. The Democratic Party must put differences aside and actively cooperate on this matter.
