South Korea has the world’s lowest birth rate, yet fertility clinics in the country are experiencing a significant boom.
Official statistics show that between 2018 and 2022, the number of infertility treatments in South Korea increased by nearly 50%. This apparent contradiction actually reflects a deep transformation in young Koreans’ attitudes toward having children.
Changing Patterns of Parenthood Among the New Generation
Rather than abandoning the idea of having children altogether, South Korea’s younger generation is seeking more control over the timing and conditions of parenthood. Many educated Korean women prefer to achieve financial and job stability first and then turn to assisted reproductive technologies like IVF to have children. This shift in mindset, along with the rising average age of marriage—now at 32—explains the growing demand for fertility services.
Government Incentive Policies
Facing a severe demographic crisis, the South Korean government has introduced generous subsidies for infertility treatments. These policies have made expensive procedures like IVF more affordable for many couples. Some analysts believe these government supports have played a major role in the 50% growth in fertility treatments.
Persistent Structural Challenges
Despite these positive developments, significant obstacles still hinder efforts to raise the birth rate. Soaring housing and education costs, a grueling work culture, and the unequal distribution of parenting responsibilities between men and women continue to discourage many young people from having children. Experts stress that without addressing these structural issues, the fertility clinic boom alone cannot resolve South Korea’s demographic crisis.
An Uncertain Demographic Future
This shift in South Korea may signal a broader change in developed societies, where women increasingly choose when and how to have children, based on informed decisions rather than societal pressure. Yet, the big question remains: can this shift in mindset, combined with advances in medical technology, restore demographic balance to the country? The answer could impact not only South Korea’s future, but also that of many other developed nations grappling with low fertility rates.
BBC