Fertility and demography-related issues have emerged in numerous developed countries, but only a handful, including South Korea, are currently facing a shrinking population. Asia’s fourth-largest economy has recently broken the world record for the lowest birth rate (249,000) and a fertility rate of 0.78. For the third year in a row, the country has experienced more deaths than births, leading to a rapidly shrinking population and an overwhelming proportion of aging individuals. Without migration, South Korea’s population size can only be maintained by attaining a fertility rate average of 2.1 children per woman, a goal that has not been met for decades. At the current pace, South Korea may expect an incoming labor shortage by 2030. The effects of this ‘population shortage’ can already be observed through the lack of students schools, the expansion of eligibility requirements for military conscription, and the overwhelmed pension system, where the number of taxpayers is shrinking while welfare spending is increasing.
Reports generally indicate economic factors as the principal causes behind the dropping fertility rate. Expensive housing, costly and competitive education systems, and economic anxiety are among the factors frequently mentioned by young Koreans as discouraging reasons to start a family. This has led to an increasing number of Korean youths opting out of traditional lifestyles, fuelling the rapid growth of single-person households (+40%).
Socioeconomic differentials are important factors in understanding the fertility issue and creating effective policies. A couple’s socioeconomic status affects the speed at which they choose to transition to parenthood. Most importantly, housing arrangements (i.e., homeownership) and employment security are key factors in fertility decisions. As mentioned previously, housing prices are a substantial barrier to couples living in metropolitan areas, such as Seoul and Busan, where even monthly and yearly renters struggle to find affordable housing and ‘key money.’
Taking such factors into account, the South Korean government has invested over $200 billion, over the last 16 years, in projects to increase individuals’ willingness to have children. Local governments have attempted to implement programs, such as cash handouts, support for fertility treatments exclusively for married couples, and increased access to loans. However, despite taking inspiration from pro-natal policy instruments, which were successful in western states, and continued government investment, the effects of the fertility crisis have not improved. As a result, the South Korean government is frequently criticized for not understanding where the problem truly stems from.
Beyond these economic counter-incentives, the South Korean government fails to recognize the role of social factors in the drop in fertility rates. These include issues ranging from the nonexistence of social mobility to gender inequality, as well as the prevalence of patriarchy. In general, South Korea’s social norms are detrimental to individuals willing to have children but who do not fit within the mold of a nuclear family. Most policies are deeply conservative and discriminate against non-heteronormative and non-nuclear families. Single parents are frowned upon; there is no IVF options for single women, same-sex couples are not recognized and there is no access to adoption for unwed individuals. In addition, labor market policies introduced in the past decade solely support dual-earner couples, and family policies for affordable childcare services similarly attach benefits to marriage status, mainly supporting women’s employment status post-marriage and childbirth.
In addition, numerous domestic factors also affect women’s willingness to bear children. While South Korean women rank among the highest-educated women amongst the OECD member countries (76 % of women hold a tertiary qualification in 2020), their gender pay gap is currently the worst among OECD countries. The level of women’s education tends to negatively impact fertility rates. In the case of South Korea, the effect is exacerbated by the expectations placed on women to become housewives or to take extended time off to care for their children.
The work culture and gender expectations in South Korea have also created a significant issue, especially for women. Currently, the weekly limit for paid work is 52 hours, but many find it difficult to meet the work requirements within this timeframe. To address this, the South Korean government has proposed to increase the limit to 69 hours per week. However, such a move could lead to further issues concerning the physical and mental health of young individuals, ultimately resulting in a drop in life satisfaction and an increase in the suicide rate. Importantly, South Korea already ranks highest among OECD countries in terms of suicide rates.
Moreover, the high levels of competition and work expectations in South Korea do not allow for a successful work-life balances or sufficient time to raise a family. Although work accommodations for parents are in place, they are not sufficient, and the current standards for women’s employment in South Korea remain negatively associated with childbirth. Parental accommodations mainly benefit mothers by allowing them time off after childbirth, but fathers do not receive similar benefits.
As a result, these policies serve to perpetuate patriarchal tendencies. To address the root cause of the fertility issue, South Korea must create lasting change within the country. Traditional and patriarchal societal expectations heavily influence women and mothers, leading many to avoid marriage and motherhood to escape the pressures of society. This has resulted in an increasing number of women prioritizing their own freedom over marriage and motherhood. Therefore, to address the root cause of the fertility issue, South Korea must challenge its societal expectations through adequate policies and create a supportive environment for women and families.
Edited by Isaac Yong
Hajar is a third-year student in International Development Studies and Political Science. She is a first-time writer and her areas of interest include the long-term effects of climate change on migration and international security issues.
Great Article! It’d be cool to look at the role of culture as a vector of Soft Power particularly with K-Pop and Korean culture taking the world by wave as a way to try to “pull” immigrants and encourage people to move to makeup for the labor shortage