I cover a wide range of stories about Korean society — one of the most dynamic places in the world. To me, journalism means being on the ground, uncovering untold stories and amplifying marginalized voices, especially in an era when AI is reshaping the media landscape. That’s why I’m always here to listen. Tips and stories are welcome — feel free to reach out via email. Before becoming a journalist, I traveled through 24 countries over 702 days, served two years as a military police officer in the Republic of Korea Air Force and later studied filmmaking at the Korea National University of Arts.
Increase in birthrate reflects shifting attitudes among Koreans
Visitors look at baby products at a fair in Gangnam District, Seoul, Aug. 17. Yonhap
By Park Ung
More Koreans are expressing favorable attitudes toward marriage and having children, signaling change in a nation that has recorded the world’s lowest fertility rate, which fell to 0.75 last year, well under the 2022 OECD average of 1.51.
A report released Wednesday by the Presidential Committee on Ageing Society and Population Policy surveyed 2,800 people aged 25 to 49 on marriage, childbirth and raising children. This was the fourth poll conducted since March 2024, providing a view of evolving public attitudes over the past year.
Among unmarried men and women, 62.6 percent expressed a positive view of marriage, up 6.7 percentage points from March of last year, while willingness to marry rose to 64.5 percent, an increase of 3.5 points.
Willingness to have children rose even more sharply, with 61.2 percent of unmarried respondents saying having children was necessary, up 11.2 percentage points. The share willing to have children also climbed to 39.5 percent, up 10 percentage points.
Reflecting this shift in perception, Korea’s fertility is rebounding. According to Statistics Korea, the number of newborns in July rose 5.9 percent from a year earlier to just over 21,800, while marriages increased 8.4 percent to nearly 20,400.
It marked the 13th consecutive monthly rise in births and the highest July figure in four years. Marriages were also at their highest July level in nine years.
Nurses care for newborns at a hospital nursery in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, July 24. Yonhap
The findings may indicate that government support measures are beginning to take effect. In June of last year, the government declared a national demographic emergency and launched a comprehensive response.
The government vowed to tackle obstacles to raising children, rolling out initiatives including longer parental leave and greater housing assistance for newly married couples.
Among all respondents, including those who are married, 34.6 percent said they would be willing to have children if their income rose. Another 22.1 percent cited having the freedom to take parental leave, and 19.7 percent pointed to flexible work arrangements.
When asked which groups should be prioritized in government measures to tackle low birthrates, 29.8 percent favored equal support for all groups, followed by married couples without children and unmarried young people, each cited by more than 20 percent of respondents.
To address the low birthrate, 84.1 percent said expanding quality job opportunities was the top priority, followed by active efforts by companies and local governments to boost births and lower private education costs, each cited by more than 80 percent of respondents.
The commission described the shift as a positive sign and said it will use the detailed public demands to guide the government’s population policy.
“If this recovery continues through the rest of the year, Korea’s fertility rate could top the earlier projection of 0.79 and reach 0.8, with the figure likely to climb even higher in the first quarter of next year,” Committee Vice Chair Joo Hyung-hwan said.
“To turn this positive momentum into a lasting rebound, we must push harder on three key policy areas — work-life balance, easing the burden of child-rearing and support for marriage and housing,” Joo added.