South Korea's President recently announced plans to establish a new government ministry, the Ministry of Low Birth Rate Counter-planning, to address the country's critically low birth rate. With a fertility rate of just 0.72 in 2023, South Korea faces a significant demographic challenge as it struggles to maintain a stable population without immigration.
President Yoon Suk Yeol emphasized the urgency of the situation, referring to the low birth rate as a national emergency. The proposed ministry aims to mobilize the nation's resources to overcome this crisis, which has been exacerbated by factors such as demanding work cultures, stagnating wages, and changing societal attitudes towards marriage and gender roles.
Similarly, Japan is also grappling with a declining birth rate, prompting Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to establish the Child and Families Agency to address the issue. This agency will focus on improving children's health and welfare, supporting families, and creating a more conducive environment for raising children.
Both countries have implemented various initiatives in the past, such as paid paternity leave and monetary incentives for new parents, but these efforts have not yielded significant results. Experts point to deeper social issues, including stigma against single parents and barriers for non-traditional partnerships, as contributing factors to the declining birth rates.
By taking a holistic approach that includes improving childcare services, supporting families, and fostering a more positive outlook on marriage and parenthood, South Korea and Japan aim to reverse the trend of declining birth rates and create societies where individuals feel encouraged to start families.
