South Korea's low birthrate

Despite the South Korean government's continued efforts to encourage families to have more children, the number of babies born declined last year.

According to the National Statistical Office, the number of newborns in 2008 totaled 466,000, down 5.5 percent from the previous year. The total number of children an average woman of childbearing age has stood at 1.19 last year.

The decline in the childbirth rate is a serious problem. It means that the country faces a declining labor force in years ahead. The population in the 30-40 age group has been declining since 2006, according to the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Family. By 2018, those over the age of 65 will constitute 14 percent of the population. Unless the falling birthrate is reversed soon, the country is destined for a weakening economy and a failure of the social security system.

Since 2005 when the birthrate recorded 1.08, the government has been scrambling to draw up policies to promote childbirth. A number of measures have been implemented - such as prenatal care, fertility treatment and increased childcare subsidies, and more flexible parental leave. Some "gu" districts are giving cash to families that have three children or more. In the past three years, some 1.8 trillion won has been allocated to bring up the birthrate, but apparently to no avail. In fact, with the bad economy, it is predicted that the birthrate for next year could fall to as low as 0.8.

Giving financial incentives to have more children is not a panacea for the grave problem of the falling birthrate. A one-time cash payment of one million won, let's say, will not prod a family to have another child when raising that child will cost a hundred times more.

One of the ways to boost childbirth is to have more women in the workforce. While this sounds contradictory, studies have shown that countries with a high female employment rate have comparatively higher birth rates. Again, this has to do with the costs of raising a child.

More flexible work arrangements, ready availability of affordable, high-quality childcare and the mandatory use of maternity and parental leave are some of the conditions that must be addressed by the government and businesses. Overt and subtle discriminations against working mothers must be eradicated as well if more women are to be encouraged to have children.