Joo Hyung-hwan "Similar Corporate Cultures in Korea and Japan... Cooperation Important for Both Countries Facing Low Birthrates"

Congratulatory Address at the 2nd Korea-Japan Women Journalists Forum

Joo Hyung-hwan, Vice Chairman of the Low Fertility and Aging Society Committee (LFASC), emphasized on the 25th that "South Korea and Japan are not only facing rapid demographic changes but also share similar corporate cultures, such as long working hours and gender discrimination in the workplace," adding, "It is very important for the two countries, which share these crises and issues, to cooperate with each other."

Joo Hyung-hwan, Vice Chairman of the Low Birthrate and Aging Society Committee, is attending and speaking at the Population Emergency Measures Meeting held at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 30th. Photo by Jo Yong-jun jun21@

Vice Chairman Joo made these remarks while attending the '2nd Korea-Japan Women Journalists Forum' hosted by the Korea Women Journalists Association at the President Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul, on the morning of the same day.

In his congratulatory speech, Vice Chairman Joo said, “Although it is encouraging that births and marriages in Korea have increased in recent months compared to the same period last year, it is still too early to call it a full-fledged and structural rebound in the fertility rate,” adding, “To achieve a long-term and structural increase in the fertility rate, it is necessary not only to consistently pursue the policy efforts made so far but also for all sectors of society?including the government, business community, and media?to unite their will and accelerate efforts to improve social awareness.”

He continued, “In addressing the low birthrate issue, positive perceptions of marriage, childbirth, and childcare are as important as policy responses, and the media, including the press, has a significant influence on shaping these perceptions,” and requested, “I ask the media sector to continue to raise public awareness of low birthrate issues and policy tasks based on sustained interest and to contribute to improving social perceptions.”

Meanwhile, this Korea-Japan Women Journalists Forum was organized to enhance mutual understanding of the media environments in both countries, discuss social gender equality issues together, and seek directions for development. This year’s forum was held under the theme “Low Birthrate Crisis, Finding Solutions Together.”