At the Smile Nursing Home in Gwangju, Ms. Lee Min-sook, a former kindergarten principal, is busy interacting with a group of elderly residents. These blocks and crayons, which were originally toys for kindergarten children, have now become entertainment tools for this group of elderly people. This nursing home is a microcosm of South Korea's demographic crisis.
Over the past few decades, South Korea has been one of the countries with one of the highest fertility rates in the world. However, with the development of society and the change of people's lifestyles, the fertility rate in South Korea gradually decreased until it fell below 10, becoming the bottom country in the world. This trend has not only affected the economic development of the country, but has also profoundly changed all spheres of society.
Kindergarten is the first link in this change. Once upon a time, it was a children's paradise full of laughter. However, as the fertility rate is declining year by year, the number of kindergarten students is gradually decreasing. Kindergarten operators like Principal Lee Min Sook are under tremendous pressure to survive. They had to reduce classes and staff, and were even eventually forced to close.
In Seoul, this is not an isolated case. Of the 4,712 kindergartens, 421 chose to close, meaning that 1 in 11 kindergartens closed. The transformation of these kindergartens into nursing homes or nursing hospitals has become a desperate measure to cope with low fertility rates. The predicament of kindergartens is not accidental, and it foreshadows the deep-seated problems facing Korean society.
The situation in primary schools is also not encouraging. According to reports, in 2023, more than a quarter of South Korea's 6,163 elementary schools have fewer than 10 new students, and 145 elementary schools have not even enrolled new students. These figures are staggering, and they reflect that the low fertility rate in South Korean society has reached a critical point.
The negative effects of low fertility have permeated all areas of the country. From education to health care, from the economy to social welfare, everything is affected by it. The plight of kindergartens and elementary schools is just the tip of the iceberg.
One of the largest funeral parlors in Busan, it used to be an auditorium and was mainly used for weddings. But as fewer and fewer young people got married, the owner of the auditorium decided that funeral services were more profitable, so he decisively changed his business. This is also a social phenomenon brought about by the low fertility rate, and more and more young people choose not to marry or marry later, so that the marriage rate is declining year by year. This has also had a direct impact on wedding-related industries, with many once-busy wedding halls now having to be converted into funeral homes.
Tackling low fertility is a daunting task for South Korea**. They have taken a series of measures, such as increasing the birth allowance, expanding parental leave, and strengthening children's education, with a view to encouraging young couples to have children. However, these measures do not appear to have had a noticeable effect.
Against this backdrop, some businesses and individuals are looking for innovative ways to address the challenges posed by low fertility. For example, some nursing homes have begun to cooperate with kindergartens to use idle kindergarten facilities for recreation and activities for the elderly; Some businesses are launching new products and services for older people to meet their needs.
However, these efforts are only a drop in the bucket, and to truly solve the problem of low fertility, it will take a concerted effort of **, businesses and individuals. ** More comprehensive and long-term policies are needed to encourage young couples to have children; Businesses need to provide better benefits and support measures to help employees balance work and family; Individuals need to change their mindsets and lifestyles to face the responsibilities and challenges of childbearing and family in a positive way.
Solving the problem of low fertility in South Korea requires the joint efforts of the whole society. Only in this way can the social and economic impact of the demographic crisis be truly mitigated and a solid foundation for future development can be laid. At the same time, the case of South Korea provides valuable experience and lessons for other countries facing similar problems. Only through the cooperation and innovation of the whole society can we meet the challenges posed by low fertility and achieve sustainable development and prosperity.
In South Korea, a social change is quietly taking place. What was once a bustling kindergarten and primary school is now full of people; What was once a bustling wedding hall is now a funeral home. Behind all this is the profound impact of low fertility.
At the Smile Nursing Home in Gwangju, Ms. Lee Min Sook, the former kindergarten director, is interacting with a group of elderly residents. These blocks and crayons, which were originally toys for kindergarten children, have now become entertainment tools for this group of elderly people. This nursing home is a microcosm of South Korea's demographic crisis.
Kindergartens and primary schools are at the forefront of this change. With the fertility rate declining year by year, the number of students is gradually decreasing, and many kindergartens and primary schools are in trouble. Kindergarten operators are under tremendous pressure to survive, having to reduce classes and staff, or even eventually close down. In primary schools, there are fewer than 10 new students, and some schools do not even recruit new students. These figures are staggering, and they reflect that the low fertility rate in South Korean society has reached a critical point.
This phenomenon is not confined to the field of education. In Busan, the largest funeral parlor has been transformed from a wedding hall to a funeral parlor. With fewer people getting married, many wedding-related industries have to transform or close. People who were once wedding guests are now mourners. South Korea** has spent 380 trillion won to cope with the declining birth rate, but young people are avoiding marriage and childbearing.
Behind these phenomena is a deep-seated problem caused by low fertility. High childcare costs, unaffordable housing, bleak job prospects and exhausting working hours have made many young people shy away from getting married and having children. In this stressful society, many young people choose not to marry or marry later, resulting in declining marriage rates and fertility rates year by year.
The low fertility rate has had a profound impact on the Korean economy and society. Many enterprises are facing the problem of insufficient manpower and have to make structural adjustments. The transformation of milk powder companies into the health food industry and the entry of the extracurricular tutoring industry into the first-class education market are all changes carried out by enterprises to find a way out. In the future, industries such as chips, shipbuilding, and shipping, which South Korea once prided itself on, may also face a serious shortage of manpower.
Yoo Jin-sung, chief researcher at the Korea Institute of Economic Research, worries: "As the number of people to support increases, South Korea's fiscal burden increases, future investment decreases, and economic vitality is declining." Lee Eun-hee, a professor at Inha University, said: "The transformation of milk powder companies into the health food industry and the entry of the extracurricular tutoring industry into the first-class education market are the beginning of structural adjustments for enterprises to find a way out." Some experts pointed out that in the future, industries such as chips, shipbuilding, and shipping, which Koreans were once proud of, may face a serious shortage of manpower.
South Korea's economy is facing unprecedented challenges. Businesses and individuals need to work together to address the challenges posed by low fertility. ** More comprehensive and long-term policies are needed to encourage young couples to have children; Businesses need to provide better benefits and support measures to help employees balance work and family; Individuals need to change their mindsets and lifestyles to face the responsibilities and challenges of childbearing and family in a positive way.
South Korea is now at an existential stake, and there is no time to waste. The editorial said: "South Korea is now facing an existential stake, and there is no time to waste. Only through the cooperation and innovation of the whole society can we meet the challenges posed by low fertility and achieve sustainable development and prosperity.
With a low fertility rate and an aging population, South Korea is facing unprecedented challenges. However, this crisis can only be overcome through the joint efforts of **, businesses and individuals. Only in this way can we ensure that South Korea's future is full of hope and opportunities.