South Korea creates the minimum fertility rate in the world, and the gap between gender compensation becomes incentives

Jimu Journalist Hu Li

According to BBC reports on August 25, South Korea once again set a record in the world's lowest fertility rate, and the number fell to 0.81, which shows that South Korea's fertility rate has been lower than the average number of children per woman.

Data chart (source: BBC)

The Economic Cooperation and Development Organization stated that the fertility rate has "significantly declined" in the past 60 years, but this trend is particularly obvious in South Korea. In the early 1970s, Korean women had an average of four children. On August 25, data released by the South Korean government showed that South Korea's fertility rate has fallen to 0.81, a decline in the sixth consecutive year. In contrast, the average fertility rate of the most developed economy in the world is 1.6.

According to the British media, the reduction of population will put a country under tremendous pressure. In addition to the increase in the demand for healthcare systems and pensions, the country has increased the pressure of public expenditure, and the reduction of the young population has also led to a shortage of labor and affecting the economy.

Experts say that in recent years, economic pressure and professional factors have been the key considerations for people to decide their children. In response to data in 2021, experts said that the rising cost of living, the surge in house prices, and the impact of the new crown epidemic were factor that hindered people's fertility.

If the Korean population continues to decrease, there will be enough people to develop economy, take care of aging population and recruit soldiers, and a crisis is brewing.

Over the years, Korean politicians have known that this situation is coming, but it has not been resolved. They invested billions of dollars to try to encourage people to have children, but this did not work.

The BBC analysis said that Korean women have received higher education, but they cannot get the corresponding high salary work. The country's gender salary gap is the highest among all rich countries. Most of South Korea's housework and parenting work are still borne by women. Women stop working or stagnant after giving birth to children. In essence, many women in South Korea are still forced to choose between careers and families, and they are increasingly inclined to not sacrifice their careers.

A Korean lady said: "We are striving for a child."

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