Birth rate drops, South Korean citizens choose ‘Self Reward’ over marriage savings

Jakarta –

The South Korean government’s drive to increase the birth rate appears to have come to an end. Politicians seem to have a problem convincing citizens, including the younger generation, to start families.

The still falling birth rate in the Country of Ginseng affects many aspects, including the economy. Few South Koreans even prefer to invest their money in shopping for tertiary needs, such as fashion products, rather than thinking about saving for marriage.

“You only live once. There isn’t enough savings left every month every time I reward myself. I might get married later, what’s more important to be happy now,” Park Yeon (28) told him Reuters.

Four out of 10 South Koreans do not plan to marry or have not thought about it, according to a report released by the President’s Committee on Aging Society and Population Policy on Thursday.

The committee published the results of a survey on attitudes towards marriage, childbirth and parenting, which was aimed at 2,011 men and women between 25 and 49 years of age throughout the country.

According to the report, 39.1 percent of the respondents between 25 and 49 years answered that they did not want to get married or that they had not thought much about marriage. On the other hand, about 61 percent of the respondents answered that they were willing or planning to get married.

Those who did not want to marry raised concerns about the burden of gender roles, with 88.9 percent of men citing financial responsibilities such as wedding and housing costs and 92.6 percent of women citing housework and child rearing.

Both male and female respondents said they would be more likely to marry and have children if economic conditions improved, such as lower housing costs, better job opportunities, and a guaranteed work-life balance.

(kna/kna)