• Korea journal of population studies
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.161-183
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• 2009

지난 30년 동안 출산율은 대부분의 국가에서 감소했다. 그리고 전 세계 인구의 절반 이상은 대체수준 이하의 출산력 수준에 이르고 있다. 합계출산율이 1.5 혹은 그 이하의 출산력 수준을 보이는 국가의 수도 계속 증가하고 있다. 저출산의 확산과 함께 합계출산율 1.3 이하를 의미하는 초저출산 현상도 크게 주목받고 있다. 앞으로 저출산이 멈출 것인지, 출산율이 회복될 것인지 혹은 지속적으로 감소할 것인지에 대해서는 아무도 쉽게 답할 수 없다. 그럼에도 불구하고 최근 산업국가들이 보여주고 있는 저출산 기조는 상당 기간 지속될 것으로 보는 견해가 일반적이다. 이 글은 저출산 및 초저출산 현상을 어떻게 설명할 것인가에 대한 이론적 논의를 검토하고, 이러한 논의가 한국 사회의 인구학적 변화에 어떤 함의를 지니고 있는가를 제시하고자 한다. 이를 위해 우선 저출산을 설명하는데 유용한 이론적 틀을 검토하고자 한다. 이들은 제2차 인구변천이론, 합리적 선택이론, 위험이론, 양성평등 이론, 선호이론, 젠더와 시장이론 등을 포함한다. 이를 기반으로 본 연구는 한국사회의 저출산 현상을 설명하는 연구들의 특성과 시사점 등을 검토하고자 한다.

• Korean Journal of Culture and Social Issue
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.97-110
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• 2012

The sharp decline of fertility in industrialized countries since the 19th century constitutes a major problem for evolutionary approaches to human behavior. Why would people voluntarily reduce their total number of offspring, despite the fact that resources are so abundant in modern times? Here I review three evolutionary hypotheses for low fertility in modern societies, and discuss how the evolutionary perspective could shed new light on solving the problem of low fertility in Korea. Low fertility may be 1) a maladaptive outcome from the mismatch between our ancestral environments and evolutionarily novel environments, 2) a consequence of gene-culture coevolution where traits that reduce genetic fitness can still spread through a population as a result of imitation, especially if the traits are expressed by high-status people, or 3) an adaptation that maximize parents' long-term genetic fitness in knowledge-based industrialized societies where high parental investment is required for rearing competitive offspring. Based on these considerations, I suggest how the evolutionary explanations of low fertility can be applied to increasing the birth rate in Korea.

• Proceedings of KHEA Conference
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• 2005.04a
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• pp.60-61
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• 2005

• Proceedings of the Population Association of Korea Conference
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• 2006.12a
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• pp.131-152
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• 2006

This study examines the causal mechanisms of low fertility and regional differentials in Korea. Utilizing the 2005 census and the 2005 vital statistics, and labor statistics at the regional level, major variables were calculated for administrative units of 234 'Gu's, 'Si's and 'Gun's. Gender equity orientation, labor market insecurity and family formation were hypothesized as key factors of recent decline in Korean fertility. This study first presents four maps of gender equity orientation, labor market insecurity, family formation and fertility. Then ANOVA and path analysis were carried out in an effort to generalize the causal mechanisms. Results of analysis reveal that gender equity orientation has played a central role in the second fertility transition in Korea. In metropolitan regions, however, labor market insecurity is found to have a significant influence on the level of family formation and fertility. Family formation also turns out to be an important intermediate variable of fertility.

• Korea journal of population studies
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.97-116
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• 2007

As the fertility level in Korea continues to drop with detrimental implications for the society, it has regained much attention of academics and policy makers. This study, building on the previous research on fertility behavior, attempts to explore the plan of young married women to have an additional child. While such plan is not always put into practice, it is still closely related to fertility behavior. In addition, it can provide useful clues to understanding behavior in the future. Utilizing a recent nationwide survey on marriage and fertility, the study analyzes the plan of further birth among young married women according to the number of their children. The results show that the plan for first child is quite universal as no difference is found by their socioeconomic and demographic characteristics. However, having plan for second child differs by the work status of husbands, presence of mother of young married women, and the sex of first child. The effects of first two factors suggest that young married women take into consideration stability of home economics and availability of care sharing. As for the plan for the child, the present and ideal sex composition of children appear most important. The results indicate that the mechanism of fertility progression differs by the current number of children. Thus, consideration of such differential would help us deepen our understanding of fertility behaviors and need to reflect in the study. The study also argues that comprehensive and systematic qualitative research should be accompanied by to capture complexity of fertility decision making process.

• Journal of Christian Education in Korea
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• v.65
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• pp.55-80
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• 2021

This study attempted to find a Christian religious alternative to the seriousness of the problem of low birth rate which has become a national and social problem, and its alternative. Korea is a low birth rate country. The phenomenon of low birth rate and childbirth avoidance is a reality that not only are national problems but also Korean churches are experiencing serious problems, and will continue to affect them. It will affect the church in four major ways. First, is a sharp decline in the number of members. Second, is the decline of Sunday schools. Third, various family problems and generational conflicts will arise. And it brings problems such as a crisis of faith among members. Young people living today have an unconventional attitude toward marriage, childbirth, and parenting. But for Christians, childbirth is a way of living in that God blessed us to "be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth." In other words, childbirth must be recognized as a blessing from God, not a human decision. Therefore, we must know how precious the fetus is in front of God and that it is a precious life. Thus, we should be interested in how to nurture the life God has given. To do so the church's role is education is to shape the value of life from a biblical perspective. Therefore the church needs to see how the Christian faith of young and married couples who are about to marry, give birth, and raise children, affects the childbirth and rearing of children. And it is necessary to study what the role of church and Christian education is to solve the problem of low birth rate and to suggest alternatives. For this study, we will first identify the factors of low birth rate. Then we will confirm childbirth and the blessing of God through the Bible. Finally, the role of the church in low birth rate and educational alternatives will be presented.

• Journal of Korean Home Economics Education Association
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.73-84
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to explore the role of home economics education in a low fertility society in the contexts of curriculum contents, community involvement, public policy participation, and advocacy. The results showed following. First, home economics is a key subject matter in dealing with a low fertility problem among 2007 revised curriculum for secondary education level. Home economics curriculum contents was systematically organized through 8th grade to 10th grade in 4 units, where as curricula contents of social studies, science, and moral education deal with a low fertility problem in partial. Second, it is proposed to be active in community involvement incorporating with secondary education, college education, and lifelong education by service learning, outreach program, and extension program. Third, public policy and advocacy participation of home economics teachers are crucial for transformative leadership and practice in enhancing the condition of individual, family, and community wellbeing such as a low fertility problem. To perform this role of home economics education, home economics teachers should participate in developing curricula and teaching materials for the extra curricula activity, creative experiencing activity, and service learning activity. Home economics teacher educators also should actively involved in outreach program and extension program as well as in public policy advocacy activity for solving a low fertility problem.

• Korea journal of population studies
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.59-85
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• 2009

본 연구는 최근 인구학에서 공간적 접근을 시도하는 논의들이 활발해지는 경향과 함께 지역 적합적 저출산 대응정책의 필요성의 대두라는 정책적 수요에 부합하고자 자녀출산계획에 있어 지역의 공간적 효과가 미치는 효과를 분석하였다. 또한, 기혼여성의 연령, 출산한 자녀의 수가 자녀를 출산할 계획을 가질 확률에 대한 비선형적 효과를 실증적으로 분석하였다. 다층모형과 같이 최근 지역연구에서 이용되고 있는 실증분석방법들의 한계점을 살펴보고, 그 대안으로 Geo-Additive Model을 적용하였다. 동 방법론은 한 모형 내에서 공간의 구조적 효과와 비구조적 효과, 연속형 변인의 비선형효과 등을 동시에 추정할 수 있다. 이를 위한 분석자료로 통계청의 2005년도 인구주택총조사의 마이크로데이터 중 2% B형 자료를 이용하였다. 분석결과 기혼여성이 자녀를 출산할 계획을 가질 확률에 기혼여성의 연령과 출산한 자녀의 수는 비선형적 효과를 주었으며, 특히 각 개인들은 현재의 출산 상태에서 자녀 한명을 추가로 출산하는 것이 동일한 부담으로 작용하지 않음을 알 수 있었다. 이를 통해 기혼여성들의 첫출산 시점이 결혼연령에 따라 차이가 있고 결혼코호트에 따라 다르더라도 첫출산 자체가 여전히 보편적인 현상이라는 가정을 받아들인다면, 출산율 제고를 위한 정책의 대상은 첫째아를 이미 출산한 여성들이 되어야 할 것으로 보인다. 또한, 자녀를 출산할 계획을 가질 확률에 지역의 구조적 공간효과가 유의미한 영향을 주는 것으로 분석되었다. 지역별 합계출산율의 공간 자기상관분석 결과와 비교해 본 결과 출산계획의 구조적 공간효과가 양의 효과를 미치는 지역에서는 실제 출산행위인 합계출산율도 높지만, 구조적 공간효과가 부적인 효과를 가지고 있는 지역에서는 합계출산율도 낮게 나타남을 알 수 있었다. 따라서 각 지방자치단체에서는 지자체들의 정책수요나 자원 및 재정의 부담능력 등 지역별 차이를 고려하지 않은 일률적인 정책의 추진을 지양하고, 지역 특수성을 고려하여 지역에 적합한 출산정책을 추진해야 할 것이다.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.13-21
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• 2020

As Korea's low birth rate has become a serious social problem, various government-level policy initiatives have been proposed to introduce and expand family-friendly personnel systems for work-family balance. The main causes of low birthrates in Korea are the increased participation of women in economic activities and the difficulties of work-family balance. As part of women's policy, support policies were introduced at various levels such as family-friendly institutions and flexible working systems, but they did not have much effect as an alternative to low birth rates. The implications of family-friendly institutions within the organization beyond low birthrates, which are continuously present, have greater implications at the time of new social transformation. This paper will investigate and discuss the implications of family-friendly policies and the implications of the flexible working system in the civil services.

• Korean Journal of Culture and Social Issue
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.53-77
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• 2012

Recently, the low fertility has been deepened because of the increase in women's economic activity, the advancement in standard of living, the rising cost of family maintenance, Therefore master plan for low fertility and aging society which is an overall response strategy for sudden increase in social costs was prepared. The most important point of the second basic plan is the reinforcement in child care support for all families and the balance of work & family. This paper shows the supporting policy for child raising in family and community as reality of policy for low fertility. The paper proposes child care support program(idolbom) as the supporting policy for child raising in family, education for men stimulating father's participation in child rearing, and sharing child care work in community in order to reinforce child care friendly environment.