South Korea is in the midst of a demographic winter, and negative fertility growth is a concern.
In 2022, David Coleman, a professor at the University of Oxford, issued a warning that South Korea could become the first country in the world to disappear. This statement stems from the population growth data released by South Korea in recent years, the new population in South Korea in 2020 is far lower than the number of deaths, the fertility rate shows negative growth, and the fertility rate in 2021 is only 084, the population increase in 2022 will continue to decline.
Demographically, there is a special term called "death growth point", which refers to the intersection of population growth and death data on the same level, which is called "death cross". This phenomenon is often a signal that the country lacks the impetus for population growth, and that population is the country's largest productive force**, and that stagnation or even negative growth will seriously affect the country's future.
South Korea is in the midst of this demographic dilemma, becoming one of the countries with the lowest population growth in a peaceful environment. So, what exactly is the problem that has caused this once harmonious and stable country with rapid economic development to fall into a vicious circle of low fertility?If this continues, what will happen to South Korea in the future?In order to solve this problem, what kind of efforts has South Korea made?
Population Winter: South Korea is "better to live than to die".
At the end of the 2021 South Korean Demographics Report, a cautionary message was written: "South Korea is getting bad. "Since 2020 South Korea ended with 0With an ultra-low population growth rate of 84, South Korea has entered a population winter of "life is worse than death".
At the same time, South Korea's mortality rate has soared. In 2020, South Korea's statistics showed that the population growth rate was 084, while the mortality rate increased to 3, equivalent to 310,000 people. This means that South Korea's population is dying faster than births, and such data makes South Korea's demographic woes even more severe.
This phenomenon is very rare in the world, and usually only occurs in war-torn countries, under the influence of force majeure factors such as disease. However, although South Korea's economy is not as active as during the period of the Asian Tigers, as an old industrial power, it has fallen into the dilemma of "having children".
Population ageing: intertwined social issues.
In recent years, South Korea's demographics have changed dramatically, from one of the countries with the most reasonable age structure to one with a severely aging population. This change is mainly due to the combined effect of several major social problems in South Korea.
First, overall economic issues have an impact on demographics. In South Korea, older people face awkward situations in the workplace, and they often become a stumbling block for young people to move up the ladder. This situation leads to a vicious circle in which young people are unable to obtain higher economic value.
The economic problems faced by young people are also an important factor in the demographic problem. Most young people have no regular income and savings, rely on credit cards and financial loans to get by, and live under great pressure, struggling to afford rent and pension insurance, let alone the desire to marry and have children.
The pandemic has exacerbated the problem, with young people being forced to lose their jobs and income**. Many even gave up their jobs and returned to their hometowns to make ends meet. As a result of this, the poor are getting poorer, young people are losing interest in marriage and childbearing, and the problem of supporting the elderly has put young people in South Korea in a difficult situation.
Soaring mortality: the pension problem for the elderly.
The problem of pension for the elderly in society has also exacerbated the aging of the population. In many family-owned businesses, seniors are in a relatively awkward position in the workplace. Their job opportunities are gradually decreasing, but without giving way, it hinders the promotion and advancement of young people. Although South Korea respects the tradition of respecting the elderly, there is a strict hierarchy of seniors in the workplace, and young people are often unable to express their grievances in front of the elderly.
Young people generally lack a stable income and are unable to pay rent and pension insurance, let alone support the elderly. Although South Korea has a pension system, children are actually required to bear more maintenance obligations. Due to the economic difficulties of young people, the problem of maintenance is unsustainable, resulting in the hardship of the elderly, and some even rely on scavenging to survive, and the mortality rate of the elderly naturally increases.
This is particularly evident among the elderly aged 65 and above, who have the highest suicide rate among all age groups in South Korea. As a result, South Korea's population problem reflects the shortcomings of the social welfare system and pension issues, and the difficult life of the elderly has touched the whole society.
South Korea's dilemma: An attempt to have a child with a lot of money.
In the face of such a severe demographic crisis, South Korea** has adopted a series of measures to encourage childbearing. However, these measures do not seem to have had the desired effect.
South Korea** has implemented a policy of "spending a lot of money to have children" in an attempt to encourage young couples to have children by providing financial incentives and welfare measures. But in the face of economic pressures and fierce competition in the workplace, this policy has not quickly changed people's attitudes about childbearing.
Conclusion: An inflection point in the fate of South Korea's population.
South Korea is experiencing an inflection point in its demographic fortunes, and is trying to find solutions, but the intertwining of social structures, economic systems, and workplace competition makes solving the demographic crisis particularly complex. In the future, South Korea will face multiple pressures such as population aging and economic decline, and how to effectively solve these problems has become an urgent task in front of the country. Otherwise, South Korea risks becoming the first country in the world to disappear.
The demographic crisis facing South Korea has aroused widespread concern and deep thinking. The root cause of this problem not only involves multiple levels such as the economy and social structure, but also involves the future direction of the country's development. Here, we will comment on the demographic issues of South Korea from the economic, social, and policy levels.
First of all, the aging of the Korean population is closely related to the level of economic development. The article mentions that South Korea's aging population is increasing, and young people are facing difficulties in the workplace, reflecting the constraints that traditional workplace structures place on the younger generation. In family-owned businesses, the predominance of older people limits the opportunities for younger people to move forward. As a result, young people do not have a stable economic base and find it difficult to take on the responsibilities of marriage and childbearing. Therefore, South Korea needs to deeply rethink the structure of the workplace to provide more development opportunities for the younger generation and promote economic vitality.
Secondly, the inadequacy of the social welfare system is also an important cause of the aging of the population. Although South Korea has established a pension system, the social welfare system has not yet formed a complete solution to the problem of supporting the elderly. The high pressure of the elderly and the fact that some of them rely on scavenging to get by show that there are shortcomings in social welfare to meet the needs of the elderly. Strengthening social welfare and providing more support for the elderly will help alleviate the social problems caused by the aging population.
At the policy level, South Korea** has adopted a policy of "asking for children with a lot of money", trying to encourage childbearing by providing financial incentives and benefits. However, the effect of this policy is not obvious. In addition to financial incentives, there are other aspects to focus on, such as the workplace environment, education system, etc. A more holistic solution is to establish a comprehensive support system so that young couples feel more confident in the responsibility of having children.
Finally, South Korea's population problem is not just a problem within one country, but also a microcosm of global demographic trends. South Korea** needs to learn from the successful experience of other countries and conduct in-depth research and formulate more scientific and rational population policies. At the same time, we need to strengthen international cooperation to jointly face common challenges such as global population aging and declining fertility rates, and form more sustainable solutions.
Overall, the demographic crisis facing South Korea is a complex and serious problem that requires the joint efforts of many parties. Only by working together on economic, social structure, policy and other factors can we find a more feasible solution to Korea's population problem and ensure the country's sustainable development in the future.
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