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.

[Torie]

Yes, the US is one developed nation that has above replacement rate fertility. It is at 2.11. What is the other developed nation which has the highest fertility rate by far? LOL.

[Torie]

You are sort of onto something here, but don't quite yet have it yet.

[Torie]

I don't think that is it? In fact, I know it isn't given the state of the teeth.

[Torie]

I should add that most don't consider "Albania" a developed country. When its largest industry is other than ponzi schemes, it might begin to move in that direction.

[Tax-chick]

Phooey on economics! The extra tax credit won't go to waste, but we, and every other family I can think of, will continue having children because we want them, not because anyone is paying.

[Tax-chick]

Siberia!

[Torie]

You seem to equate low fertility with cold weather. One would think it is the opposite (all that time under the covers), but maybe you have a point.

[Tax-chick]

Northern countries do have lower birthrates, cause unknown to me, although I personally don't like to get out of all my warm clothes in the winter!

I'm having trouble thinking of something that's not a country.

Tasmania?

[Torie]

Actually, the place in question with the lowest fertility rate in the world is quite warm.

[Tax-chick]

Define a developed country? China?

And is the lowest birthrate Mongolia?

So much for my Jeopardy championship, jeez! And I've had to split the last bottle of wine with the Dad of 'em All, so I won't be getting any smarter as the evening wears on :-).

[Torie]

I will reveal all tomorrow morning. Stay tuned.

[Torie]

Developed countries are in Western Europe, the US, Canada, Australia, NZ, Israel, and Japan, and actually that one place that is not a country with the lowest fertility rate on the planet.

[Tax-chick]

I'm not going to lose any sleep over this, I promise! We were up half of last night with the tornado warnings.

Madagascar?

[Torie]

You think a black African nation has the lowest fertility rate on the planet?

[Tax-chick]

No, I just thought maybe it wasn't a country! Monaco? My husband says that's not a country, but I say it is. You're affecting the birthrate of Oklahoma by causing a conflict here!

Is Israel the other "developed nation," the birthrate of Palestinians and Orthodox Jews overriding the abortion rate of the secularists?

[Tax-chick]

Cyprus? We're going to bed as soon as Iron Chef is over!

[Under the Radar]

Great thread! This is very interesting! :-)

[cookcounty]

I win!!!

Highest birthrate in a developed country is Israel....When I visited with my four kids, they said we had a small family!

[cookcounty]

The bad news for the Israelis is that the Palestinian women average over 6 children per child-bearing female......Happy Mother's Day!

[Torie]

Yes, Israel has the highest developed nation fertility rate by far, at 2.7. Monaco is a great guess, but wrong. It IS a country, but not the on UN list. Maybe countries with a population of 20,000 don't count. The place with the lowest fertility is not a country, but has certain autonomous features.