Korea journal of population studies (한국인구학)

The Population Association of Korea (한국인구학회)
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Fertility Decline in South Korea: Forty Years of Policy-Behavior Dialogue

한국의 출산력 감소: 40년 동안의 정책과 출산행위간의 대화

  • Choe, Min-Ja (Research Program, East-West Center) ;
  • Park, Kyung-Ae (Vital Statistics Division, Korea National Statistical Office, Government Complex)
  • Published : 2006.08.25
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Abstract

This paper examines the interplay among changes in socioeconomic conditions, population policies, and fertility decline during $1960{\sim}2000$ in South Korea. Period-parity-progression-ratios (PPPR) are calculated using 2% samples of Population Census with the implied distribution of completed family size. The total fertility rate based on PPPR declined from 5.21 in 1960 to 2.76 in 1980, and 1.69 in 2000. The family planning programs were successful in meeting the needs of families that wanted to prevent further childbearing after having achieved the desired family size during $1960{\sim}1970$. The 1980s mark two important landmarks: achievement of replacement fertility and emergence of high sex ratio at birth. In the 1990s the "quality and welfare" approach was emphasized. In 2000s, South Korea's fertility is one of the lowest in the world. In response to this, in 2005, the Government adopted a new population policy with the goal of increasing the total fertility level to 1.6 by 2010. The results of this study indicate that proportion of women who would have no children at all throughout their reproductive life span increased substantially from 10% in 1995 to 16% in 2000, with a sharp increase since 1997. Thus, pro-natal programs need to address the problems associated with marriage and having the first child. Towards that, it is important that work and family life become more compatible.

1960-2000년 동안 한국의 사회경제적 상황, 인구정책, 출산력 감소간의 상호 관련성을 분석하였다. 연령별 출산율에 기반한 전통적 합계출산율이 혼인연령과 출산연령의 변화에 따라 영향을 받기 때문에 센서스 2% 표본 자료를 활용하여 기간출생진도비(PPPR)를 계산하고, 가족의 크기 분포도를 살펴보았다. PPPR에 의거한 합계출산율은 1960년 5.21, 1980년 2.76, 2000년 1.69로 감소하였다. 가족계획사업은 1960년대와 1970년대에 걸쳐 원하는 자녀 수 이외의 출산을 예방하는데 성공했다. 1980년대에는 지속적인 출산억제정책으로 대체출산수준에 도달했고, 출생성비의 불균형 현상이 나타났다. 1990년대의 인구정책은 1자녀 장려정책 폐지와 함께, 출생성비균형, 인공유산 감소, 청소년을 위한 정책, 여성의 권한 증대 등 인구의 질과 복지에 초점을 두었다. 2000년대에는 한국의 출산력이 세계에서 가장 낮은 국가 중의 하나로 감소하였다. 2005년의 인구정책은 2010년까지 합계출산율 1.6 달성 목표를 채택하였다. 이 연구 결과는 가임 기간 동안 자녀를 출산하지 않는 여성의 비중이 1995년 10%에서, 2000년 16%로 급증하였으며, 1997년 이후 그 비중이 다소 가파르게 증가하고 있음을 보여준다. 따라서 출산장려정책은 혼인과 첫째아 출산에 모아져야 함을 시사하고 있다. 이를 위해, 여성의 직업과 가정의 양립성을 증진시킬 수 있는 사회정책을 촉구하고 있다.

Keywords

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