Assemblyman Jang Byung-wan: "Fundamental Shift Needed in Low Birthrate Policy"

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Seon-gang] Representative Jang Byeong-wan (Gwangju Metropolitan City Dongnam-gu Gap) pointed out the need for a fundamental change in the government's low birthrate policy direction.

According to the provisional '2019 Birth and Death Statistics' announced by Statistics Korea on the 26th, the number of births last year was 303,100, the lowest since the statistics began in 1970, and the total fertility rate fell from 0.98 in 2018 to 0.92.

Representative Jang Byeong-wan said, "A total fertility rate below 1 means that the number of births will be less than half after one generation," and added, "Low birthrate is not simply a childcare issue but a matter concerning the survival of the Republic of Korea."

The government has been implementing the Basic Plan for Low Birthrate and Aging Society in three phases since 2006, investing an astronomical budget of 185 trillion won until last year, but the total fertility rate dropped by 0.21 from 1.13 in 2006 to 0.92 last year.

Representative Jang said, "The direction of investment is more important than the scale of the budget for low birthrate measures," emphasizing, "It is important to create an environment where children can be born and raised, rather than simply investing in childcare and welfare focused on married women."

He continued, "With the sharp decline in the school-age population starting this year, regional universities are facing an existential crisis," expressing concern that "due to low birthrate, not only regional balanced development but the entire social infrastructure is at risk of collapse."

Representative Jang said, "Since housing stability is the most important foundation for having and raising children, I have proposed the 'Comeback Home Act' to supply rental housing to newlyweds and others using National Pension funds," and added, "The government must explore all measures to create a 'Korea where people want to have children,' including housing stability and improvement of childcare environments."