"Too Busy Making a Living to Get Married and Have Kids" 20s and 30s Giving Up on Childbirth [Heo Midam's Youth Report]

Population Decreased by 33,000 Last Year... First-Ever 'Dead Cross'
7 out of 10 Future Generations Say "No Need to Have Children Even If Married"
Low Birthrate Response Budget 40.2 Trillion Won... Failed to Stop Low Birthrate
Experts Say "Harsh Lives of Youth Affect Low Birthrate Issue"

The photo is unrelated to specific expressions in the article. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] [Editor's Note] How is your youth remembered? From teenagers to college students and office workers, we deliver the joys and sorrows unique to 'youth.'

"I don't have confidence in raising a child even if I have one.", "I'm too busy making a living to think about marriage and having children."

Last year, South Korea experienced a 'population dead cross' phenomenon where the number of deaths exceeded the number of births, making the 'population cliff' crisis a reality. South Korea's total fertility rate ranks the lowest among the 37 member countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The decline in births is attributed to the harsh realities faced by young people, such as employment difficulties and soaring real estate prices.

In particular, concerns are growing as the speed of population decline is expected to accelerate from next year, when the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on birth rates begins to show. Experts emphasize the need for the government to present concrete measures to address low birth rates.

According to the '2020 Birth and Death Statistics (Provisional)' released by Statistics Korea on the 24th, the country's population naturally decreased by 33,000 last year. This marked the first-ever occurrence of a 'dead cross,' where the number of deaths surpassed the number of births.

Additionally, the total fertility rate, which is the average number of children a woman is expected to have in her lifetime, dropped to a record low of 0.84. This marks the third consecutive year that the total fertility rate has remained below 1, following 0.98 in 2018 and 0.92 in 2019.

In summary, this means that a woman of childbearing age (15?49 years) is expected to have less than one child on average. Notably, South Korea is the only country among the 37 OECD members with an average fertility rate below 1.

Job seekers are browsing the job posting board. The photo is unrelated to specific expressions in the article. [Image source=Yonhap News]

The decline in births is rooted in the harsh realities faced by young people. Factors such as skyrocketing real estate prices, youth unemployment, workplace cultures that make it difficult to take parental leave, and the burden of sole childcare have led young people to avoid not only childbirth but also marriage.

Office worker Kim (31) said, "I only became somewhat financially stable in my 30s. But if I get married in this state, I think I will lose financial freedom." He added, "I don't have enough savings to get married, and I don't feel that 'I must get married,' so living alone is comfortable for now."

Meanwhile, the younger generation also does not view marriage as an obligation, suggesting that the low birth rate trend will continue. According to a survey conducted last year by the Child Welfare Research Institute of the Green Umbrella Children's Foundation, which polled 708 elementary, middle, and high school students nationwide, only 16.7% of respondents said "marriage is a must." Meanwhile, 67.4% said marriage is not mandatory.

There were also many students who did not want children. Among respondents, 70.3% said, "Even if married, having children is not necessary." When asked whether childbirth makes families more harmonious, 32.5% responded negatively, while 21.9% responded positively. However, 70.1% of respondents believed that childbirth contributes to society. The future generation highly values the social significance of childbirth but holds negative views about having children themselves.

As a result, the speed of population decline is expected to accelerate. Especially with the COVID-19 pandemic compounding the situation and reducing the number of marriages, there are concerns that South Korea's low birth rate and aging population will progress at an even faster pace.

College student Jung (24) said, "It's not that I don't want to get married. It's that there are no benefits to marriage, so I end up choosing to remain single." He added, "Once you get married, there is no life for yourself. If you have children, you struggle financially for them while also preparing for old age. Given this situation, who would want to get married and have children?"

The bride and groom are holding hands at the wedding hall. Photo by Yonhap News.

In response to this situation, the government is pouring massive budgets into addressing low birth rates. In fact, last year's budget for low birth rate measures was 40.2 trillion won, a 20-fold increase compared to 2.1 trillion won in 2006.

Additionally, through the '4th Basic Plan for Low Birth Rate and Aging Society' announced in December last year, the government stated that from 2022, it will provide 2 million won upon childbirth and monthly allowances of 300,000 won for infants aged 0 to 1 year.

Despite the government's massive budget allocation, the situation has not improved, leading some to argue that expanding support alone cannot stop the low birth rate. They claim that cash support does not address the fundamental causes of low birth rates.

Former People Power Party lawmaker Yoo Seung-min also wrote on his Facebook on the 25th, "Low birth rates are a phenomenon caused by avoidance of marriage and childbirth, so we must find the root causes of why people don't marry or have children." He added, "It's because there is no hope. With skyrocketing housing prices making it impossible to buy a home and no stable jobs, how can anyone dream of marriage and childbirth?"

He continued, "Policies that resolve fundamental anxieties such as a growing economy, private-sector jobs instead of tax-funded part-time jobs, homes to live with loved ones, reliable daycare centers and schools to entrust children, and a secure old age are the true low birth rate policies."

Experts analyze that the low birth rate issue is linked to the harsh lives of young people. Professor Kwak Geum-ju of Seoul National University's Department of Psychology said, "Young people are struggling due to various factors such as rising housing prices. Also, the high costs of childcare mean that economic factors lead to not having children." She added, "If economic stability is achieved, the willingness to have children will be higher than now." She further pointed out, "Policies that reduce the burden of childbirth are necessary. Without innovative policies, the fertility rate will not rebound."