[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?

[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?

[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.

[Cdnexpat]

You have found the answer, it is incredibly expensive to raise children in the ROK. It is not unusual for parents to budget 40 or 50% of their take home pay for their children's education, the largest part of this going to hogwans (private institutions) or tutors that prepare their children for the multitude of placement tests that determine a students educational future.
Families are also having children later in life than they were before, so naturally they have less time for children.
There is also a strong preference for sons, (the reasons or many and cultural and I don't want to get side tracked) so many families will only have one child if their first child is a son. Many parents who have a daughter will have another child late in life in an effort to have a son.
The divorce rate is rising so many mothers who would have tried for the second child later in life do not because they are now single.
The exodus from the country side in driven by women and children. On average women much prefer city life to farm life, in fact many farmers are marrying Philippino or Chinese women and bringing them to Korea, because they cannot find Korean women who want to live in rural areas. If you want your child to have a chance to get into the best universities, Seoul National, Yonsei, Ewha etc they need access to the best institutes and private tutors these, of course, are found in the big cities.
These are the largest reasons for Koreas declining birth rate and the move from rural to urban areas.