• 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.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.148-152
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• 2011

Objective: Laser-assisted intracytoplasmic sperm injection (LA-ICSI), also known as micro-opening or thinning of the zona pellucida (ZP) prior to ICSI, may help to reduce mechanical damage to the oocyte during the procedure. The aim of the present study was to evaluate and analyze the efficacy of our institutional LA-ICSI program, which features laser-assisted ZP thinning prior to ICSI, in comparison with conventional ICSI (C-ICSI), performed on patients with different clinical characteristics. Methods: Patients undergoing a total of 212 ICSI cycles were randomly divided into an LA-ICSI group (106 cycles) and a conventional ICSI group (106 cycles). To reduce tissue damage, we thinned the ZP by approximately 70%, using a laser, before ICSI. Patients thus treated formed the LAICSI group. Comparisons included the morphological quality of transferred embryos, blastocyst development of the remaining embryos, and clinical pregnancy, in terms of ICSI method and patient characteristics. Results: Fertilization, development of remaining embryos, and pregnancy rate were significantly higher in the LA-ICSI group compared with the C-ICSI group. Fertilization, embryonic development, and the pregnancy rate were all improved in younger patients (<38 years of age) and in those who underwent a low number of IVF-ET attempts (<3 trials). In addition, the pregnancy rate was increased in older patients. Conclusion: LA-ICSI may be useful in improving the chance of pregnancy in all ICSI patients.

• Journal of Korean Home Economics Education Association
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.85-100
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• 2017

The purpose of this study is to raise the importance of 'family culture and values' in the process of diagnosing and discussing the causes and measures of low fertility in Korean society. In addition, I sought to find the causes of over - fertilization and ways to cope with it in terms of educational approach to establishing family culture and values. Specifically, this study firstly reviews the causes of low fertility in Korea by examining the evaluation of low fertility policies, secondly, examines the actual conditions and changes in family culture and values related to low fertility, and third, In this paper, I examined the validity of educational intervention, the actual state of intervention, the contents of education in institutional education, the necessity and effect of education, the composition of educational content, and possible policies and arguments based on educational approach. The issue of low birth rate is a national social problem facing the Korean society in the modern age. Considering its causes and countermeasures at the same time, it is necessary to pay attention to the factors of family culture and values as well as economic factors. To further emphasize the educational approach to gender equality and family-friendly family culture and values.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.769-778
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• 2023

This study compared and analyzed parental leave and child allowance, two major policies among solutions to the current serious low fertility rate problem, using unstructured data, and sought future directions and implications for related response policies based on this. The collection keywords were "low fertility + parental leave" and "low fertility + child allowance", and data analysis was conducted in the following order: text frequency analysis, centrality analysis, network visualization, and CONCOR analysis. As a result of the analysis, first, parental leave was found to be a realistic and practical policy in response to low fertility rates, as data analysis showed more diverse and systematic discussions than child allowance. Second, in terms of child allowance, data analysis showed that there was a high level of information and interest in the cash grant benefit system, including child allowance, but there were no other unique features or active discussions. As a future improvement plan, both policies need to utilize the existing system. First, parental leave requires improvement in the working environment and blind spots in order to expand the system, and second, child allowance requires a change in the form of payment that deviates from the uniform and biased system. should be sought, and it was proposed to expand the target age.

• Korea journal of population studies
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.89-113
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• 2006

Over the past four decades reproductive behavior has changed rapidly in much of the developing countries. The average total fertility rate has fallen by half from six or more to near three today. Between 1960 and 2000 the largest fertility decline occurred in Asia and Latin America. The mortality rate has also decreased in most developing countries. The purpose of this study is to review the pattern and characteristic of demographic transition in developing countries. At first, this study focuses on the regional fertility and mortality transition. Africa, the total fertility rate is still high, can be match to the second stage of demographic transition. Similar case is found in Southern West Asia areas. However, the fertility rate has therd stage of demographic transition. The same pattern is found in Latin America. The mortality rate has also decreased in most of developing countries. It is interesting to find that there is a clear difference among developing countries. In terms of crude death rate, Latin American countries show the lowest rate. while African countries remain still high rate. About mortality, African countries show a high level in terms of both crude death rate and infant mortality rate. African countries also show the lowest level of life expectancy in the world. One of the reasons for low level of life expectancy in Africa is the widespread of AIDS in this areas. This study suggests that we should include 'AIDS' in the study of mortality in African countries.

• KDI Journal of Economic Policy
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.25-51
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• 2017

This paper employs an Overlapping Generations Model to quantify the impacts of Korea's demographic transition toward an older population on the total output growth rate. The model incorporates the projected population through 2060 according by Statistics Korea. The effects of the low fertility and increased life expectancy rates are studied. The model is considered suitable for analyzing the effects of demographic changes on the Korean economy. Under the assumption that the TFP growth rate will not slow considerably in the future, remaining at 1.3% per annum, the gross output growth rate of the Korean economy is projected to slow to 1.1% per annum in the 2050s, from 4.0% in the 2000s. The shrinking workforce due to the decline in fertility plays a significant role in the deceleration of the Korean economy. The increased life expectancy rate is expected to mitigate the negative effect, but the magnitude of its effect is found to be limited.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.20 no.8
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• pp.251-261
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• 2020

This study aims to suggest a new perspective that can account for variations in fertility rates across OECD countries. Most previous literature has highlighted the influence of government policies on fertility rates. This study focuses the role of job strain, unequal division of household labor, and life satisfaction on fertility rates. These factors are related to work-life balance, and play a crucial role in understanding variations in fertility rates across OECD countries. Using fuzzy set qualitative comparative research analysis (fsQCA), this study tests whether fertility rates can be explained by differences in the levels of job strain, gender equality at home, and life satisfaction across countries. The results are as follows: First, high fertility-countries show low levels of job strain, equal division of household labor, high levels of life satisfaction, and high levels of GDP. Second, a high level of GDP is not crucial for achieving high fertility rates. This study suggests that changes in working conditions and organizational culture are required to increase the fertility rate in Korea, since this can influence work-life balance, life satisfaction and equal division of household labor.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Educational Facilities
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.15-20
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• 2020

Due to urbanization and industrialization, the population of rural areas has sharply decreased, and the social phenomena of low fertility and aging have occurred due to many factors such as the spread of individualism and single-person households derived from urbanization and economic growth. In order to cope with the low birth rate and the aged society, the Korean government has invested 152.1 trillion won from 2006 to 2015 and to proceeded total 231 projects in 3 different areas including the low fertility(95 projects), the aged society(78 projects), and the growth momentum(58 projects). Among the social problems caused by the low birth rate and the aged society, there have been not enough studies on the closed schools which will result from the social phenomenon of decreases in the school age population. The purpose of this study is to analyze the current extent of utilizing closed schools in Korea, to derive some types based on the analysis, and to provide basic data on the use of closed schools in Korea in the future. The types of closed schools can be classified into education facilities, social welfare facilities, cultural facilities, public sports facilities, income growing facilities, and others. Based on the classification, the analyses of the characteristics of each type for the facilities are presented.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.300-305
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• 2005

As the current level of birth rate of Korea has dramatically declined, it is obvious that pediatric dentistry will also be affected by this change. This study was performed for the purpose of understanding on the current fertility levels of Korea. The formal data on the number of live births(NLB), crude birth rate(CBR), and total fertility rate(TFR) published annually from the National Statistical Office of Korea from 1992 to 2000 were used as materials for this study. The TFR values from 1990 to 2002 of Korea were compared with those of some western countries with similar history of decreased birth and the CBR values of the metropolitan cities and the capital city Seoul in 2003 were compared domestically, yielding to results as follows. 1. Recent birth rate of Korea was decreased continuously. NLB was about 490,000 CBR was 10.2 and TFR was 1.19. 2. TFR of Korea in 2002 was 1.17, the lowest in the world. 3. There was a large difference in the NLB and CBR between local prefectures and towns of Seoul domestically. Additional population studies and medico-economical studies to exactly predict the demands of pediatric dentistry and proper supplies of manpower in the future was thought urgently required.

• Korean Journal of Culture and Social Issue
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.111-125
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• 2012

The total fertility rate of our nation has been in the world's lowest level with constant falling since it reached an all-time low in 1983. The increase in economic participation of women, difficulties to balance work and family life, and traditional gender role and family norms in our society have been blamed for causing low birth rates. In addition, the current economic recession and increased polarization of wealth make it more difficult for working families to balance work and family life, resulting in lowering fertility rates. The Korean government has recently prepared the second five-year basic plan(2011-2015) to deal with low fertility and population ageing. The basic plan aims at providing support for working families in balancing work and family life and helping people ease the burden of marriage, childbirth, and raising their children. The work-family balance policies based on gender equality will do much to increase fertility rates in the future. In this context, this study examined current status and problems of balancing work and family life in our society, the Korean government and corporate policies for work-family balance, and the effects of policies on childbirth. Suggestions for future directions are presented.