Presidential Office Orders Review of Improvements to Childbirth Outside of Marriage System

Chief of Staff Kang Hoonshik Presides Over Senior Aides Meeting on September 8
"There Have Indeed Been Calls to Recognize Non-Marital Cohabitation"

Yonhap News

Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hoonshik has ordered a review of improvements to the system regarding childbirth outside of marriage.

Deputy Presidential Spokesperson An Gwiryung announced this during a briefing at the Yongsan Presidential Office on September 8.

According to Deputy Spokesperson An, Chief of Staff Kang presided over a senior aides meeting earlier that day and stated, "The government has operated support systems such as social insurance with a focus on children to ensure that children born outside of marriage are not discriminated against." He added, "It is also true that there have been calls to officially recognize cohabitation outside of marriage as a new type of family."

He then requested the Presidential Committee on Low Fertility and Aging Society, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, and the Ministry of Health and Welfare to "review improvements to the system related to childbirth outside of marriage, based on sufficient social discussion."

However, in response to a question about whether the government is considering a life partnership law, Deputy Spokesperson An stated, "There has been no discussion of any specific bill," and explained, "This statement was made in the context of creating more advanced social systems."

According to Statistics Korea's "2024 Birth Statistics," the number of children born outside of marriage last year was 13,800, accounting for 5.8% of all births. This is the first time that the proportion of children born outside of marriage has exceeded 5%.