Dear MEL Topic Readers,
Why South Korean women aren't having babies
East Asian countries are in demographic crises. The population of South
Korea is around 51 million but only 230,000 babies were born in 2023. Compared
to those of Japan’s 125 million population and 750,000 newborns, South Korea
had too few newborns. In fact, there were only 0.72 births per woman, the
lowest in the world and on record. In Seoul, where about half of the nation’s
population lives, the birth rate was only 0.55. Since the replacement level of birth
rate is 2.1 births per woman, South Korea is rapidly losing its population. Why
South Korean women are choosing a child-free life despite the lucrative support
from the government, such as free taxis, hospital bills, and IVF treatments, as
well as subsidized housing? Economically, housing and education costs are to
blame, both of which are some of the highest in the world, especially in Seoul.
Professionally, women work under high pressure to be competitive with their male
counterparts. Socially, women are expected to be married to have children. Domestically,
men aren’t willing to share house chores and childcare. Even though South Korea’s
women have the same rights and opportunities as men, in reality, they seem to
be expected to do more than men.
Read the article and learn about why so many women choose not to have
children in South Korea.
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