[Initial Insight] Can "Living Together" Solve the Low Birthrate Problem?

"There are too many programs on air that are either reality shows like 'I Live Alone' or dramas about infidelity, illegitimate children, and family breakdowns. There needs to be a change in the programming of broadcasting companies."

This statement was made by Seo Jeong-sook, a member of the Special Committee on Population Crisis of the National Assembly and a member of the People Power Party, at a party strategy meeting held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 5th. Feeling a sense of d?j? vu from her remarks, I immediately searched for related comments. Sure enough, they closely resemble statements made a year ago by Na Kyung-won, a former vice-chair of the Low Fertility and Aging Society Committee from the same party.

The claim that the entertainment program 'I Live Alone' glamorizes living alone and influences people's perceptions has been repeated with a one-year interval. Moreover, these claims come from individuals holding positions that could influence the nation's key population policies. However, this confuses cause and effect.

The program 'I Live Alone' began in 2013, a time when South Korea had already entered a state of 'ultra-low fertility.' It is closer to being a result of low fertility rather than a cause. International organizations define a total fertility rate below 2.08 as low fertility and below 1.5 as ultra-low fertility, and South Korea's total fertility rate was already 1.3 in 2012.

While I do not agree with their claims, let us concede, for the sake of argument, that 'there is some merit to their claims.' If the entertainment program 'I Live Alone' were discontinued and replaced in that time slot by a show tentatively titled 'We Live Together,' highlighting happy lives of celebrity families or non-celebrity families, would it effectively raise the birth rate?

We would have to try to know for sure, but frankly, it is uncertain whether any meaningful effect could be achieved. The gradual decline in birth rates results from a complex interplay of various factors such as high private education expenses and housing costs, intense social competition, and changing perceptions of marriage. Changing the programming of specific entertainment or drama shows alone cannot solve the problem.

Furthermore, the culture of watching TV broadcasts live has almost disappeared nowadays, with most people accessing video media through OTT (over-the-top) services like YouTube or Netflix, or social networking services (SNS). Even if the government broadcasts 'We Live Together' on public broadcasting, the 20s and 30s age group, who are of marriageable age, are more likely to find more entertaining shows or dramas on Netflix or YouTube more attractive.

The most fundamental issue is whether young people, who are already in a state of involuntary singlehood and ultra-low fertility, can relate to a program like 'We Live Together.' One of the main reasons for the popularity of the entertainment show 'I Live Alone' was its relatability. Young people, who delayed marriage and were pushed into involuntary singlehood due to unstable jobs and income and anxiety about the future, likely found great empathy in seeing celebrities living alone just like themselves. However, if a show like 'We Live Together' were aired, it might unintentionally cause feelings of relative deprivation, contrary to its intended purpose.

The low fertility issue is a complex outcome of intertwined factors such as high education costs and real estate prices, unstable income and employment among the younger generation, intense competition, and changing perceptions. None of these issues are easy to resolve. Therefore, rather than viewing the low fertility problem from a simplistic perspective, it seems necessary to seriously consider measures that align well with the changing perceptions of the younger generation while creating an environment conducive to having children.