• Korea journal of population studies
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.179-205
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• 2007

Demography has grown as an independent academic discipline in Korea during past 30 years by describing and examining changes of population components such as fertility, mortality, migration, and census, and the "Population Association of Korea" stands on the midst of the growth. High fertility of the 1960s and 70s, which was considered as a hurdle of economic growth, particularly boosted the prosper of demography in Korea by inviting a number of non-demographers as well as demographers to population-related research projects. However, as fertility gradually decreases and becomes no-threat anymore beginning the early 1990s, social interests in demography has withered to lose its academic soils in Korea. A recent phenomenon of the lowest low fertility has revived social need and interest in demography. Unfortunately, once curtailed capacity of Korean demography is not sufficient enough to provide academic and/or practical resources now. This research is conducted to cerebrate the 30th anniversary of "Population Association of Korea" and to seek ways to cultivate academic soils again and to rebuild the capacity of demography in Korea. To do this, this research examines the causes of current struggles of Korean demography by comparing its academic environments with that of America, and offers suggestions for its brighter future.