Korean Marital Norms and Their Impact on Low Fertility Rate: Perspectives of Families with Three Children

Abstract

Low fertility rate in Korea has become a major social issue as married couples delay or forgo childbirth or have fewer children. This report focuses on the families with three children in Korea (also known as “families with multiple children”) and examines various factors associated with their child-bearing and family planning experiences. The study uses a QUAN→qual mixed method approach combining the ?2009 National Survey on Marriage and Fertility? and fifteen in-person interviews. The findings illustrate some differences in socioeconomic characteristics between the study sample and subjects dealt with in previous studies. In addition, this report includes a model on process of forming families with multiple children due to various reasons including: 1) wanting more children, 2) wanting a child of a particular gender, and 3) experiencing unplanned pregnancy. Finally, the authors discuss how Korean marital norms affect married couples’ decision to have three children and, based on the findings about the types of service they perceive as helpful, make policy recommendations to support these families.