South Korea has only proved how difficult it is to reverse the trend of a declining birthrate. The nation has made little progress in promoting childbirths over the last five years, despite a series of government support packages.
The government came up with its first five-year birthrate-boosting measures in 2005 when the birthrate hit the world’s lowest level of 1.08. Driven by those steps, the figure rebounded to 1.13 in 2006 and 1.26 in 2007. But it again fell to 1.19 in 2008 and 1.15 last year. The nation has a long way to go before meeting its target of 1.6.
Against this backdrop, the Lee Myung-bak administration and the governing Grand National Party have drafted the second blueprint to ramp up the birthrate. The highlights of the new packages are to expand support for childbearing women.
The blueprint calls for an increase of the monthly maternity leave allowance from the current 500,000 won to a maximum 1 million won. Presently, those belonging to the lower half of the income brackets are eligible for the allowance. But, more mothers, except those in the top 30-percent brackets, will be able to receive the benefit.
It is worth noting that the government’s policy focus will shift from low-income families to working moms. Poor mothers without jobs have so far received child-raising support from the government, while working moms are without such a benefit. From next year, working moms will be entitled to the benefit as long as they are not high-income professionals.
However, many people call into question whether the new five-year measures will bring about a significant change to Korean society. It’s hard to believe the government policy will encourage more young women to marry and have babies.
Before announcing the final blueprint next month, the Lee administration needs to include bolder steps to jack up the birthrate. Although the problem is a lack of state budget, it is important to pin down the socioeconomic factors that force more women to choose not to have children.
Since the birthrate issue came to the surface in the early 2000s, members of civic groups have proposed that Korean society take up the bill for child rearing. We believe it’s time to actively discuss how to share individuals’ burdens with the state, local authorities, and corporations.
Needless to say, the low birthrate will bring about demographic woes, including a drop in the economically active populations and a surge in the number of senior citizens. Coupled with the aging society, the problem will sap the economy by eating away at the nation’s growth potential.
No doubt the country will have to pay a much higher price for the grave consequences of the dwindling birthrate unless it takes more radical measures to stimulate childbirths. Let’s not forget that the nation will face a gloomy future with less and less children.