Korean Expat Community for National Disasters

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According to official data released recently, South Korea has surpassed its previous record for the lowest fertility rate in the world as the nation attempts to overcome a long-term decline in birthrates. According to government-run Statistics Korea, the nation's fertility rate—which measures the typical number of children a woman would have in her lifetime—dropped to 0.81 in 2021—0.03% less than the previous year. In order to put that into perspective, the fertility rate for 2021 in the United States was 1.6, while it was only 1.3 in Japan, where the rate likewise recorded its lowest level ever last year. Since 2015, South Korea's birth rate has been declining, and in 2020, the nation for the first time recorded more deaths than births, which caused a decline in population known as a "population death cross."

Similar factors that contribute to the fall in births in South Korea include demanding work environments, stagnant income, growing living expenses, and skyrocketing housing costs.

Due to the fact that they prioritize their careers in a fiercely competitive job market where they frequently encounter a patriarchal culture and gender inequity, many South Korean women claim they just lack the time, money, or emotional resources to go on dates.

 To combat the declining fertility rate, the South Korean government has implemented a number of initiatives in recent years, such as enabling both parents to take parental leave at the same time and extending paid paternal leave. Men have been urged by social campaigns to participate more actively in childcare and housekeeping, and in some regions of the nation, the government is providing "new baby vouchers" to parents to entice them to have more children. Experts expressed fear that if the problem is not addressed quickly, the nation may experience an "age quake" starting in 2030–2040, a demographic shock similar to an earthquake caused by a decline in the population and rapid aging.

According to a government projection, South Korea's population of working age is predicted to decrease by 35 percent over the next 30 years as a result of the nation's record-low birthrate and rapid aging.