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Chong Myeong Ju
Professor Vincent Gilhooley
English Composition2 (J114)
24 November 2016
Low Birth Rate in Korea
The Korean population increased from1970 to 2010. However, the population of
children less than 15 years old decreased. Therefore Korea was classified as an aging society
in 2000 (Lim 429). Aging society makes unemployment in the elderly increases. The elderly
citizens are the generation that sacrificed everything for their children's success. However, the
nation cannot afford to provide sufficient support for the aging people who lost their jobs and
lost their economic power. In addition, aging society makes the younger population declines
and lacks labor force, and increases costs of supporting young people. Then what makes the
low birth rate that causes aging society?
The obvious reason why people don't have their children is in economic difficulties.
The cost of raising a child until he becomes an adult is enormous. And in Korea, most of the
childcare costs are spent on children's education. The high standard of education in Korea has
been well known. Korean parents begin their private education when their children are in
kindergarten. Nevertheless, cost and financing of early childhood education and care in Korea
is not easy enough. Even in English kindergarten fee is very expensive. For example, in Seoul
in 2010, basic monthly fees for four and five-year-olds ranged from 115 thousand won for
public kindergartens (around $100), to 172 thousand won for public childcare, 238 thousand
won for private childcare and between 90 thousand and 540 thousand won for private
kindergarten (Jones 11). However, government budget for childcare is not enough. While

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subsidies have risen in line with inflation, the maximum subsidy for a low-income family was
172 thousand won per month, well below the average tuition of 300 thousand won at private
kindergartens (Jones 11). Because of university admission procedures, which is the most
important goal of Korean children, reliance on private tutoring, notably at academy, continue
to rise. However, the government's lack of support for childcare is making it worry about
having children.
For this economic difficulty, dual working families are increasing now days. In
addition, womens increase in education also helps the rate of women's participation in
economic activities has been steadily increasing (Yun and Suh 143). For women who have
their own work while rearing child, Korea is a hard country to live. There is still a strong
perception in Korea that a husband should be assisted by his wife rather than having to be
accompanied by his wife. Furthermore, there are disadvantages for women who are
pregnant at the most of the company. The reality of women having to leave work temporarily
while rearing children not only affects their chances for promotion, it also ensures that wages
for working women will remain low (Yun and Suh 143). This is the second cause of the law
birth rate of Korea. These unreasonable treatment to the working women makes people are
reluctant to have a baby.
The third main cause is an increase in individualism. The value of marriage is
changing. There is a growing number of one-person households who prefer to live alone and
live independently of their own lives. In former times, most of the people are left the family
by the necessity of leaving home alone because of school or employment, but now people are
hoping to live their lives and enjoy their leisure. They are tolerant of consumption for
themselves and do not save on investing in their favorite things. A practical and lavish crowd,
we call them FORE Me People. It is a newly coined word that made by in front of the

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alphabet of words which is For Health, One, Recreation, More Convenient, and
Expensive. It represents the modern people that boldly invest the products although it is
expensive (Bae 70-71). The characteristics of the FORE Me People are in the value of
consumption. If they can afford it, they will gladly open their wallet for themselves and
improve the satisfaction of their life. Therefore the increasing of FORE ME People who
regard their live as the best unaffectedly causes the low birth rate.
Infant mortality rates of Korea and OECD member nations By January 2011, there
were a total of 33 member nations in the OECD (Chang, Lee, Hahn, Chung, Choi, Shim and
Bae 51). This low birth rate of Korea causes by three major reasons: economic difficulties,
increase of womens economic activities and individualism. However, if there are some
efforts, we can overcome the low birth rate. There is a need for a policy to support many kids
families and children education costs by the government, and corporation need to prevent
unemployment caused by pregnancy and guarantee maternity leave. Furthermore increasing
of child welfare facilities helps to overcome the low birth rate.

Works Cited

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Bae, Chong-Woo, Chang, Ji-Young, Lee, Kyung Suk, Hahn, Won-Ho Hahn, Chung, SungHoon, Choi, Yong-Sung Choi, Shim Kye Shik. Decreasing Trends of Neonatal and Infant
Mortality Rates in Korea: Compared with Japan, USA, and OECD Nations. Kyung Hee
University Hospital 892. 727. Academic Search Google. Web. 24 Nov. 2016
Bae, Joo hee. Problem of City Korea Local Government Officials ' Mutual Fund 50 (2015):
70-73. Academic Search Google. Web. 24 Nov. 2016
Jones, R. S. Education Reform in Korea OECD Economics Department Working Papers
1067 (2013):51. Academic Search Google. Web. 24 Nov. 2016

Lim, Jae Woo. The changing trends in live birth statistics in Korea, 1970 to 2010 The
Korean Pediatric Society 54 (2011):429-435. Academic Search Google. Web. 24 Nov. 2016

Yun, Young-sook and Suh, Myung-sun. Cost-Sharing Methods For Maternity Leave and
Child-Rearing Provisions For Working Women Women's Studies Forum 11 (2000): 143.
Academic Search Google. Web. 24 Nov. 2016