Super-low birthrate and super-aging society: risks and responding strategies according to female social groups

Abstract

In South Korea, there is a phenomenon showing super-low birthrate of 1.19 average, the lowest in all OECD countries on the basis of 2013 figure. Although there has been rapid growth in number of childbirth and childcare support policies for the last 10 years since the light was first shed on the risk of low birthrate, single women still stick with negative attitude against childbirth, married women are experiencing difficulties in work-family relations and old generations are not being taken care of. Therefore policies supporting childbirth should move forward in direction of allowing women to continue to stay in labour force even during the process of childbirth and childcare by guaranteeing stability in employment and flexibility in labour for moms. Thus the goal of policies against low-birthrate should not simply be enhancing birthrate of individual household but an establishment of good local community and environment where parents can give birth and raise children is required.