The modern utopia.
When the world views South Korea, we often look at how polished and perfect their society is–from K-pop idols, uproaring k-dramas, Korean lifestyle influencers, and gleaming city sites. The glamourization of South Korea has spread worldwide from the rise of Korean entertainment industries and single stories of narratives that don’t grasp the full picture. To outsiders, South Korea may appear to be the country of unrealistic expectations you’ve always dreamed of–ranging from ideal dating life, scenery, and even medical guidelines. Despite having advanced healthcare systems, South Korea is facing a severe demographic issue of low birth rates, being the lowest in the world at 0.75 per woman in 2024. Over the course of a few decades, the reality of motherhood in South Korea has revealed itself from the dark veil, leaving the decision to become mothers untouched.
South Korea’s Low Birth Rate.
To maintain a stable population, a country’s average birth rate should be 2.1 per woman. South Korea’s low birth rate of 0.75 is typically framed as an economic disparity, seeing as though women hold only about 21% of managerial roles and 5% of executive posts, creating harder pressures for women to financially survive if they have a child. Additionally, the patriarchal expectations of women even make the idea of raising a child less desirable. Raising a child in South Korea is very expensive, especially for women. It has the widest gender pay gap among OECD countries, with women only gaining about 69% of what men earn, according to Statista. This is influenced by many factors, including deeply attributed gender roles, child responsibilities, and misogynistic work culture. Nonetheless, economic and social contributions are not the only explanations for the low birth rate.
Beyond affordability, women often feel unheard in medical spaces, weakening their decision to become mothers. The checkup rate at 6 weeks after birth is 94.3%, which is lower than the checkup rate of 100%. This postpartum rate was even lower for women younger than 30 years and women between 40 and 45 years. Korean mothers are faced with the reality of maternal mortality since the most frequent causes of maternal death are postpartum hemorrhage and obstetric embolism during the prenatal and postpartum stages. Considering how it’s financially difficult to raise a child in South Korea at the beginning of your career, especially for females, women who would be ready to be a mother are hesitant because of the lack of prenatal care for women over 40.
Additionally, the Health Ministry’s decision not to allow the use of epidurals during childbirth, which restricts women’s right to choose, could also be a reason for the low birth rate. Many South Korean women feel stripped of their agency in medical decisions about their own bodies. The Ministry also removed “pain busters,” a local anesthetic used at the surgical site during Cesarean sections, the most preferred method of delivery in Korea. This has made women feel betrayed by the healthcare system, further discouraging motherhood. Mothers have openly stated, “I am very afraid when thinking that I will lose one option for pain control.”
Beyond Numbers Korea.
The low fertility rate is therefore not just an economic problem, but a maternal health crisis. Countries with few healthcare restrictions and body autonomy often have higher success in birth rate numbers. The sole focus on financial difficulties concerning the 0.75 birth rate ignores the realities that current and future mothers are facing. Creating a healthcare system that ensures women’s safety and medical desires could help the low birth rate in South Korea. Only when women’s voices are heard will Korea be able to rebuild trust and form environments where citizens would want to raise their children.
Pradipti Nath
A good read!