• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.29-40
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• 2004

The fertility rate of Korea has rapidly decreased to the lowest in the World. The fertility rate below replacement fertility level might result in many social problems. First, this study investigated the cause of low fertility rate. Second, the theories of the relationship between fertility rate and women's employment were reviewed. The previous studies suggested that the fertility rate was not always related to women's employment negatively and there was mediating factors between them. Third, the various factors that mediated the negative relationship between fertility rate and women's employment were described in personal, family and social levels. Finally, this study suggested the policies and strategies to solve the low fertility rate problem in Korea.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.335-352
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• 2024

Purpose - Low fertility rate is a serious problem, and this study analyzes factors affecting total fertility rate using panel data from 16 metropolitan cities and provinces in Korea from 2000 to 2022. Design/methodology/approach - Estimating the SAR model considering the weak cross-sectional dependence that exists in variables related to the regional total fertility rate, and using the DKSE estimation method considering the strong cross-sectional dependence. Findings - Estimation results considering weak and strong cross-sectional dependence were similar, confirming the robustness of the results. Female labor force participation rate has a positive effect on total fertility rate, and employment rate has no effect. However, the interaction term is a negative (-) sign. Crude marriage rate has a positive effect on total fertility rate, and apartment price has a slightly positive effect. Environmental factor has no effect, and policy factor has a negative effect. Research implications or Originality - In order for an increase in the female labor force participation rate to lead to an increase in the total fertility rate, qualitative improvements in female employment must be made. Financial investment policies for childbirth must increase their effectiveness. The problem of low fertility rate requires not only population policy but also social, economic, cultural, environmental, and policy conditions to be considered.

• 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.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.558-567
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• 2016

In the case of France which was successful in improving the ultra-low fertility rates of birth and South Korea, from the late 1980s, the birth rate fell continuously. In 1994, total fertility rate fell 1.66, but thanks to the active family policy of the government in the mid 1990s, it grew and maintained 2.0 average since the year 2008 until now. This study examined carefully how France was not classified as advanced welfare state, overcame the obstacles of low fertility problem in the socio-economic and institutional side and trying to get some suggestions from South Korea in which it of such problems in the field of low fertility.

• The Korean Journal of Applied Statistics
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.685-701
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• 2015

The low fertility rate and the unprecedented rapid pace of population aging is a significant factor degrading the national competitiveness and the social security system of Korea. The government has implemented various maternity incentives to alleviate the low birth problem; however, the policy seems in effective to solve the problem of low fertility. This study proposes a conditional birth-order specific fertility rate and investigates the policy effects of fertility transition in Korea to provide a basis for more effective policy development. The use of a conditional birth-order specific fertility rate allows for an effective calculation of the change and the effect in total fertility rate than a birth-order specific fertility rate. We compare the effects of the total fertility rate according to various scenarios that enables us to calculate how the total fertility rate can achieve the current multi-child childbirth support policy of the government and estimate how the total fertility rate can be achieved when focusing on the first or second childbirth support policy. We also summarize the research results on policy development for a practical increase in the childbirth that considers the rapid decrease in women of childbearing age (15-49 years) due to continued low fertility and present the number of childbirths in accordance with the total fertility rate.

• 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.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.263-265
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• 1995

Blood plasma minerals and their effects towards the fertility in 136 cows randomly selected from 26 dairy farms in central Thailand were studied. An average of 8.60 mg% Ca, 5.97 mg% P, 2.45 mg% Mg, $85.9{\mu}g%$ Cu, and $160.9{\mu}g%$ Zn in plasma was observed. Compared to the critical deficient values, 24.3, 10.3, 11.8, 28.7 and 0.0% of the surveyed cows obtained the respective elements in plasma below the standard levels. No significant difference (p >.05) in plasma concentrations of Ca, P, Mg and Zn for the low fertile (conception rate > 3) and fertile (conception rate < 3) cows was found. However, plasma Cu of the low fertile cows (averaged $77.2{\mu}g%$) was lower (p <.01) than that of the fertile ones (averaged $91.12{\mu}g%$). Additionally, it is observed that 47.1% of the cows with the low fertility problem obtained plasma Cu below the 65.0 pg% critical deficient value.

• Journal of Korean Society of Industrial and Systems Engineering
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.41-50
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• 2024

Korea is facing a significant problem with historically low fertility rates, which is becoming a major social issue affecting the economy, labor force, and national security. This study analyzes the factors contributing to the regional gap in fertility rates and derives policy implications. The government and local authorities are implementing a range of policies to address the issue of low fertility. To establish an effective strategy, it is essential to identify the primary factors that contribute to regional disparities. This study identifies these factors and explores policy implications through machine learning and explainable artificial intelligence. The study also examines the influence of media and public opinion on childbirth in Korea by incorporating news and online community sentiment, as well as sentiment fear indices, as independent variables. To establish the relationship between regional fertility rates and factors, the study employs four machine learning models: multiple linear regression, XGBoost, Random Forest, and Support Vector Regression. Support Vector Regression, XGBoost, and Random Forest significantly outperform linear regression, highlighting the importance of machine learning models in explaining non-linear relationships with numerous variables. A factor analysis using SHAP is then conducted. The unemployment rate, Regional Gross Domestic Product per Capita, Women's Participation in Economic Activities, Number of Crimes Committed, Average Age of First Marriage, and Private Education Expenses significantly impact regional fertility rates. However, the degree of impact of the factors affecting fertility may vary by region, suggesting the need for policies tailored to the characteristics of each region, not just an overall ranking of factors.

• Journal of Industrial Convergence
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.25-40
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• 2015

The aim of this study is to a study on the effects of fertile women on the low fertility in Korea. It is designed to research a model and established hypothesis with emphasis on major variables based on theoretical discussions. However, the result of the study is as follows. Firstly, this brought in delivery avoid phenomenon thus resulting in lower delivery phenomenon. The government should propose reasonable solutions to persuade female personal value and important elements of delivery rate at the same time. Secondly, Patriarchal stereotypes weighting household labor to female traditionally pressures working female with double burden as dual stance of work and family worsen the delivery will. Such atmosphere within a family generates female with an ability to get pregnancy to avoid marriage and delivery. Lastly, the research has pointed out the delivery support policy as most ineffective policy among government policies. To solve this problem, the government policy to recover delivery rate must be reviewed continuously and to be exercised immediately.

• Korean Journal of Child Studies
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.75-84
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• 2009

Recently, low birthrate has been recognized as a social problem, which is expressed as catastrophy of population. There are several reasons why low birth rate has occurred directly and indirectly, generating total economic and social burden for our society. That is, low birthrate should not be simply regarded as reduction of population. The present study identified the reasons of low birthrate and the current status of infertility, and examined practical and theoretical issues in terms of low birthrate. It is our contention that low birthrate and infertility is one of the most important governmental issue to enhance quality of life of the public. Thus, integrated and systematic policy must be developed and implemented to effectively meet the issues.