Alarm over S. Korea's low birth rate

Straits Times ^ | By Caroline Gluck

[DeaconBenjamin]

Many rural communities are in danger of dying out, and the problem could threaten the nation's economic growth

SEOUL - Just one school remains open in the village of Dongmyun, deep in the heart of South Korea's countryside in central Chungcheong province.

There used to be four schools in the area. But in the past 30 years, the number of pupils has fallen dramatically from more than 1,000 to just over 100.

Village head Hong Ui Jeong fears that without drastic action, communities like his may die out totally.

With fewer than 20 babies born last year, he is doing what little he can to try to reverse the trend.

To couples who give birth this year, he will offer a cash incentive - money that comes out of his own salary.

'The population in Dongmyun is dropping by about 100 people every year,' he said. 'To stop our village dying, I decided to offer 100,000 won (S$145) to every couple if they had a baby.'

One mother who has benefited from that offer is Ms Kim Sun Deok, nursing her two-month-old son, Song Do.

'I think it's better than nothing, but it's not enough to help bring up a child,' she said. 'Anyway, many of my friends tend to marry later in life, and by then it's too late to start a family.'

Other regions with dwindling populations are also taking steps such as offering couples a silver bracelet for their newborn - to show how highly valued they are.

Meanwhile, government officials are getting worried over the declining birth rate.

Rural communities like Dongmyun are the worst hit. About half of the village population is over the age of 65, and only 10 per cent of women are of child-bearing age.

Younger couples are also moving out of the countryside to cities in search of better jobs and a better lifestyle.

The falling birth rate is evident across the country. More working couples are put off by the high costs of raising children and the lack of adequate childcare and social welfare facilities.

Mr Shim Jae Kwon of the ruling Millennium Democratic Party said that, in the past, South Korea focused on achieving rapid economic development - and welfare issues were not a top priority.

He admitted that unless rapid steps were taken, the country could begin to suffer economically and face serious manpower shortages.

A shrinking workforce will have to support a growing elderly population. And the country could lose its economic edge.

After decades of actively promoting birth control - which was implemented until 1996 - population advisers are now considering what was once unthinkable: introducing new policies to promote child birth.

Said Mr Kim Seung Kwon of the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs: 'The most important thing is that the government needs to share the economic burden by providing more family allowances and tax breaks.'

Other ideas include longer maternity leave and more public child-care facilities.

But unless such measures are implemented soon, many dwindling rural communities such as Dongmyun may not survive.

BABIES: Stork's not coming

FIGURES about to be released suggest that South Korea may have the lowest birth rate in the world at 1.17 - below the 2.1 rate needed to keep the population at its current size.

This will be a historic low for the country and is part of a downward trend since the 1970s, when the birth rate was more than 4.

The figure was 1.3 in 2001 and 1.47 in 2000.

[DeaconBenjamin]

South Korea may have the lowest birth rate in the world at 1.17 .

Wow. And I thought Japan was in bad shape.

[cynicom]

I thought Italy had the lowest birthrate. Mexico could spare a few million if south Korea would care to have them.

[Larry Lucido]

South Korea somehow managed with only 25 million back in 1975, and it's up to 48 million now.

I imagine S. Korea will be able to import all the people they want from N. Korea within a few years.

[Larry Lucido]

Mexico could spare a few million

Think they'll trade their jalapenos for kimchee?

[Pukka Puck]

My thoughts exactly.

[Torie]

Quiz time. How many nations considered "developed" have fertility rates above the population replacement level of 2.1? If any, what are they? What nation or nations have the lowest fertility rates at the present time? Actually, a place that is not a nation which the UN lists separately has the lowest fertility rate on the planet at the present time. What place is that?

[Torie]

Mexico is headed towards replacement rate in the next ten years. It currently has a fertility rate of 2.5. Cheers.

[cynicom]

Someone should stop having that half a kid.

[Tax-chick]

a place that is not a nation which the UN lists separately has the lowest fertility rate on the planet at the present time

Is it Antarctica, or Vatican City? In either case, a low birthrate would be good!

[Torie]

No, neither of those places are listed. Put your thinking cap on.

[Moonman62]

I would think that decreased fertility rates are a natural consequence of increased productivity. We just don't need as many wage slaves and cannon fodder as we once did. Look at how our much smaller army beat the living daylights out of Iraq's larger one.

[Godel]

average european woman has about 1.4 kids in her lifetime. that means every generation 1/3rd of the pop is gone. Combine that with sky high third world birthrates and massive immigration/asylum and you have a recipe for genocide and complete population replacement. its very likely that we will see a muslim majority europe in our lifetime.

[Torie]

It has everything to do with economics. In developed countries, kids are a huge expense, and generate almost nothing of dollar value for the family. Also, they almost all live, so you don't need to plan for a margin for error to have someone to hold your hand when you are old. Plus, the government will hold your hand financially if you are old and poor. Plus women have rights. Plus abortion is "normal" in most of these countries. But there is one distinct grouping of countries that has the lowest fertility rates in the world. What do these countries have in common?

[Tax-chick]

Gibraltar? Andorra? It's not Oklahoma; everyone I know has at least 4 kids!

[Torie]

Andorra is a country. Gibralter is not listed either, but that actually strikes me as a reasonable guess.

[Moonman62]

But there is one distinct grouping of countries that has the lowest fertility rates in the world. What do these countries have in common?

Let me guess, fluoridated water?

[Tax-chick]

The United States and Albania have above replacement birthrates.

Greenland!

[liberalnot]

there is a relation between declining birth rates and the economy.

[Tax-chick]

What do these countries have in common?

Current or former Communist, and/or lapsed Catholic.

[Moonman62]

It has everything to do with economics. In developed countries, kids are a huge expense, and generate almost nothing of dollar value for the family.

I prefer countries where people have children because they love them. I notice where president Topgun is going to almost double the child tax credit.