• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.251-268
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• 2014

Applying the data from 64 single(26 men and 38 women) and 71 childless married men and women(37 men and 34 women) aged between 30 and 45, this study is to understand their future fertility intention. For this purpose, ideal and real number of children that participants plan to have were compared using paired t-test. Second, demographic variables(sex, age, marital status), child care related variables(thoughts about caring children, child care value), individual characteristics(gender role attitude, relation orientation) and social context variables(perceived economic condition, recognition of low fertility policies) were included in a stepwise regression model to explain expected number of children participants plan to have in the future. Results showed that ideal number of children participants wish to have was significantly higher than real number of children they expect to have in the Korean society. The stepwise regression model explained 35% of the variance of the dependent variable. Among four types of variables, child care related variables most powerfully explained expected number of children study participants plan to have in the future. Finally, age, child care value, gender role attitude, and relation orientation significantly explained expected number of children in the future.

• International Journal of Advanced Culture Technology
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.93-98
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• 2021

To develop policies regarding fertility and pregnancy that will be effective in preventing further declines in fertility rates in the context present-day Korea, current policies in Japan were analyzed and compared with those now being implemented in Korea. This study was structured to involve (a) comparison of maternal health projects in Korea and Japan, and (b) comparison of infertility support policies based in regional cities in Korea and Japan. Korea's Health Plan 2030 emphasizes strengthening healthcare for high-risk pregnant women, expanding investments to benefit vulnerable groups, and establishing a support system for infertile couples. In Japan, government programs involving treatment targeting infertility specifically were implemented nationwide in 2006. Wide dissemination of accurate knowledge related to pregnancy is emphasized. Also, counseling centers specializing in infertility were established by 67 local governments. We have confirmed that Korean policies include decentralization, while Japan is implementing the central government's infertility policy uniformly in all regions. Japan also adjusted its policy out of concern that problems related to infertility and childbirth will worsen due to the social disaster of COVID-19. The results indicate that providing additional support for psychological counseling may be preferable to increasing the number of in-vitro fertilization procedures. The physical burden on women may be minimized by benchmarking policies in Japan. Step-by-step application of these procedures should be systematically supported to achieve the best results.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.36 no.12
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• pp.1796-1805
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• 2023

Objective: This study aims to identify heat shock protein70-2 (HSP70-2) and protamine-1 (PRM1) mRNA and protein in Madura bull sperm and demonstrate their relation as bull fertility biomarkers. Methods: The Madura bull fertility rates were grouped based on the percentage of first service conception rate (%FSCR) as high fertility (HF) (79.04%; n = 4), and low fertility (LF) (65.84%; n = 4). mRNA of HSP70-2 and PRM1 with peptidylprolyl isomerase A (PPIA) as a housekeeping gene were determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, while enzyme-linked immunoassay was used to measure protein abundance. In the post-thawed semen samples, sperm motility, viability, acrosome integrity, and sperm DNA fragmentation index were analyzed. Data analysis was performed on the measured parameters of semen quality, relative mRNA expression, and protein abundance of HSP70-2 and PRM1, among the bulls with various fertility levels (HF and LF) in a one-way analysis of variance analysis. The Pearson correlation was used to analyze the relationship between semen quality, mRNA, proteins, and fertility rate. Results: Relative mRNA expression and protein abundance of HSP70-2 and PRM1 were detected and were found to be highly expressed in bulls with HF (p<0.05) and were associated with several parameters of semen quality. Conclusion: HSP70-2 and PRM1 mRNA and protein molecules have great potential to serve as molecular markers for determining bull fertility.

• International Area Studies Review
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.215-235
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• 2018

Policy concerns related to raising fertility rates are not only common interests among the OECD countries, but they are also issues of great concern to South Korea whose fertility rate is the lowest in the world. The fertility rate in South Korea continues to decline, even though most of the national budget has been spent on measures to address this and many studies have been conducted on the increase in the fertility rates. In this regard, this study aims to verify the effectiveness of the detailed factors affecting the fertility rate that have been discussed in the previous studies on fertility rates, and to investigate the overall trend toward enhancing the quality of life and increasing the fertility rate through macroscopic and structural studies under the recognition of problems related to the policy approaches through the case studies of the European countries. Toward this end, this study investigated if a high quality of life in advanced countries contributes to the increase in the fertility rate, which country serves as a state model that has a high quality of life and a high fertility rate, and what kind of social and policy environment does the country have with regard to childbirth. The analysis of the OECD Better Life Index (BLI) and CIA fertility rate data showed that the countries whose people enjoy a high quality of life do not necessarily have high fertility rates. In addition, under the recognition that a country with a high quality of life and a high birth rate serves as a state model that South Korea should aim for, the social characteristics of Iceland, Ireland, and New Zealand, which turned out to have both a high quality of life and a high fertility rate, were compared with those of Germany, which showed a high quality of life but a low fertility rate. According to the comparison results, the three countries that were mentioned showed higher awareness of gender equality; therefore, the gender wage gap was small. It was also confirmed that the governments of these countries support various policies that promote both parents sharing the care of their children. In Germany, on the other hand, the gender wage gap was large and the fertility rate was low. In a related move, however, the German government has made active efforts to a paradigm shift toward gender equality. The fertility rate increases when the synergy lies in the relationship between parents and children; therefore, awareness about gender equality should be firmly established both at home and in the labor market. For this reason, the government is required to provide support for the childbirth and rearing environment through appropriate family policies, and exert greater efforts to enhance the effectiveness of the relevant systems rather than simply promoting a system construction. Furthermore, it is necessary to help people in making their own childbearing decisions during the process of creating a better society by changing the national goal from 'raising the fertility rate' to 'creating a healthy society made of happy families'

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.16 no.8
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• pp.59-70
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• 2016

This study aimed to find effective policies to cope with low birth rate in local authorities. It was analyzed the variables-a number of child-care facilities, paid parental leave, labor force participation, and total working hours-using panel analysis from 2005 to 2014. The results were as follows. First, after testing the whole years, we found that the fittest model was the fixed-effects model of 2 models(fixed-effects model, random effects model). A number of child-care facilities had positive effects, and a number of child-care facilities, and total working hours in women influenced negative effects on total fertility rate. Second, during the former time and the period of plan for low birth rate and aging society, a number of child-care facilities influenced negative effects on total fertility rate. Third, a number of child-care facilities had negative effects on total fertility rate in Busan, Daegu, and Kwangju. Paid parental leave influenced positively on total fertility rate in 5 cities and a province. Women's total working hours were a significant variable of total fertility rate in Jeju. This study found that the variables which influenced on total fertility rate were different by local authorities, and a number of child-care facilities and paid parental leave were very important variables on total fertility rate.

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.106-113
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• 1997

Three indigenous mulberry species of Morus tiliaefolia Makino, Morus mongolica C. K. Shneider and Morus bombycis Koidz. were naturally crossed and their fertilities and fruit characteristics were investigated during the years of 1996 and 1997. M. tiliaefolia Makino and M. mongolica C.K. Schneider showed low fertility, but M. bombycis Koidz. was medium in fertility. The fruits of M. tiliaefolia Makino were red-purple and midium in size and high sugar content, but those of M. mongolica C.K. Schneider were light red and small but extremely high sugar content. The total acidity of fruits was 0.73, 0.50 and 0.36-0.94% in M. tiliaefolia Makino, M. mongolica C.K. Schneider and M. bombycis Koidz. respectively. Regarding ripenening stage, M. mongolica C.K. Schneider was early and M. tiliaefolia Makino was medium, while M. bombycis Koidz was early or medium.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.15
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• pp.85-97
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• 1974

In order to clarify the inducing conditions and cause of sterility in rice plants, 4 varieties were cooled at 3 different levels of temperature combined with 3 different levels of treatment period. And 19 varieties were tested to examine the varietal difference of cold resistance. The results obtained were summarized as follows; 1. There were significant varietal differences in the effect of cooling treatment at meiotic stage. Suwon 213-1 was induced heavy sterility by 3 day cooling treatment at 17.5$^{\circ}C$ whereas Hayayuki, Nongpaik and Jinheung were induced a little sterility by 3 day cooling treatment at 15$^{\circ}C$ and 5 day treatment at 17.5$^{\circ}C$. The per cent of grain fertility was correlated significantly with the delayed days to heading, the degree of panicle extraction (Suwon 213-1, Nongpaik, Jinheung), culm length (Nongpaik, Suwon 213-1), and Auricle distance (Suwon 213-1). The degree of sterility was able to be estimated from the linear regression equation between the degree of panicle extraction (distance from panicle neck to flag leaf) and fertility percentage. In the case of heavy cold damage by the treatment of low temperature at meiotic stage, the rice plant had somewhat lower pollen density per anther, small and ununiform anther and pollen in size, and more sterile pollen grains. Suwon 213-1 showed anthesis in almost all spikelets, while Nongpaik, Jinheung and Hayayuki indicated considerable number of indehisced anther at 5 days after heading. 2. The fertility were not generally higher in cooling treatment at heading stage than at meiotic stage treatment. And significant correlation was found between the percentage of grain fertility treated at above two stages. Nongpaik and Jinheung were not affected in percentage of fertility by 5 day treatment at 15$^{\circ}C$ when these were treated at heading stage. Indehisced anthers were not found in Suwon 213-1 and Hayayuki, but Nongpaik and Jinheung showed more anthers which did not show anthesis 3. There was different varietal response to low temperature which was indicated by the decrease of grain fertility resulted from cooling treatment at meiotic stage. Jaekeun and Jinheung did not show low fertility but Milseong, Suwon 210, Satominoli and Suwon 213-1 showed outstanding decrease in fertility percentage by the cooling treatment at meiotic stage. The varieties which had low fertility were likely to have low pollen density per anther, abnormal anthers, small size po]]en grains and many sterile pollens. 4. Remarkable varietal difference of cold resistance was found in heading stage cooling treatment. Nongpaik, Jinheung, Jaekeun, Paltal, Akibare, Milseung and Palkeong were not affected in grain fertility by cooling treatments but Nonglimna No. 1, Suseong, Hayayuki, Suwon 213-1 and Suwon 210 showed significantly high sterility as treated by cool temperature. Most of the varieties showed higher fertility by cooling treatment at heading stage than meiotic stage but Hayayuki, Suseong and Nonglimna No.1 showed lower fertility when these were treated at heading stage than meiotic stage. There were two grops of varieties in the response to cooling treatment, one was somewhat non-anthesised and the other showed full anthesis. 5. In cold injury test of young seedlings, the result of observation was not accorded with the degree of growth inhibition. As a general, Palkeum and Suseong were highly torelant to cool temperature but Suwon 213-1, Jaekeun, Paltal, Shirogane, Palkeong, Mankyung were highly susceptible. 6. There is no significant correlation between the degree of young seedling cold damage and or the degree of growth retardation at seedling stage and grain fertility resulted from coding treatment both heading and meiotic stage.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.1-32
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• 1977

This study has been made to find out more effective way of vegetation establishment on severely denuded forest land from the viewpoint of soil moisture regimes. Various environmental factors were measured to estimate soil moisture conditions of different sites. Soil moisture influence on growth of over vegetations, water requirement and drought resistance were analyzed. The efficiency of water use was also reckoned at different fertility levels and different soil moisture conditions. This research is composed of field experiment and green house experiment. Field experiment includes height growth, survival and coverage analysis of cover vegetations (Robinia pseudoacacia L., Lespedeza bicolor Turcz, Arundinella hirta Tanaka var. ciliare Koidzumi.) with 4 fertility level treatments on 3 slopes (Steep: $37^{\circ}$, Moderate: $25^{\circ}$, Gentle; $17^{\circ}$) during dry season (1 April-30 June) and wet season (1 July-10 September). At the same time temperature, relative humidity and precipitation were measured to understand the environmental changes. Soil moisture conditions were measured with soil moisture meter with 24 soil cells. Green house experiment comprised height, fresh weight and dry weight measurements of cover vegetations with 4 fertility levels and 3 moisture conditions for 70 days. The results extracted from experiments are as follews. 1. Cover vegtations have 3 patterns of water requirement at the early stage of growth. a) Robinia type has high water requirement and weaker drought resistance. b) Lespedeza type has low water requirement and stronger drought resistance. c) Arundinella type has moderate water requirement and weaker drought resistance. 2. The vegetations have different optimum fertility levels in different soil moisture supply condition. a) Robinia needs a low fertility level in dry condition and a high level in wet condition. b) Lespedeza needs only low fertility level in all conditions. c) Arundinella needs a low fertility level in dry condition and a high level in wet condition. 3. The efficiency of water use (Water/1g dry weight) by fertility levels is different from one another. Robinia and Arundinella have a good efficiency at low fertility level in dry condition and at high fertility level in wet condition. Lespedeza has a good efficiency at low fertility level in all conditions. 4. $P_2O_5$ requirement of Robinia and Lespedeza is high, but that of Arundinella is low. Soil moisture condition has a great influence on $P_2O_5$ absorption in dendued forest land. Once Vegetations are established on suitable sites with optimum fertitity level according to different moisture condition, even the small amount of soil water in denuded land can he used with high efficiency and the effect of fertility treatment can be maximized.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.57 no.4
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• pp.67-90
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• 2005

The purpose of this study is to analyze factors to affect low fertility and to investigate its implications to social welfare. For the purpose, I surveyed 360 married women and men in Gyeongnam province, and employed multi-regression, logistic regression model to process the data. I analyzed factors to influence low fertility in three aspects: demographic feature, socio-economic status, and personal sense of value. The results of analysis can be summarized as follows: (1) the period of marriage in demographic feature, income level in social economic status, and the necessity of children in personal sense of value are important factors to affect the current fertility level, (2) period of marriage, total numbers of children, gender of the first child are determining the future childbirth in demographic feature. Secondly, income level is interrelated to the future childbirth in socio-economic status. Thirdly, in the aspect of personal values, how much one needs to get married, how much one prefers son to daughter, how much one relies on one's children to realize one's dream are interrelated to the future childbirth, (3) the cost of bringing up a child as well as he expense of private education, lacking of a day nursery, and economic difficulty are causes to make people to postpone or give up childbirth. These results suggest that development of population policy to promote women's social participation and to strengthen family welfare as well as social welfare is necessary. These also implicates that if we pursue integrated policies on women, childcare, and education, we can get much more effective population welfare policy.

• Korea journal of population studies
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.85-111
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• 2010

South Korea has experienced a rapid fertility decline and notable mortality improvement. As the drop in TFR was quicker and greater in terms of tempo and magnitude, it cast a new challenge of population projection - how to improve the forecasting accuracy in the country with a super-low fertility pattern. This study begin with the current status of the national population projection as implemented by Statistics Korea by comparing the 2009 interim projection with the 2006 official national population projection. Secondly, this study compare the population projection system including projection agencies, projection horizons, projection intervals, the number of projection scenarios, and the number of assumptions on fertility, mortality and international migration among super-low fertility countries. Thirdly we illustrate a stochastic population projection for Korea by transforming the population rates into one parameter series. Finally we describe the future challenges of the national population projection, and propose the projection scenarios for the 2011 official population projection. To enhance the accuracy, we suggest that Statistics Korea should update population projections more frequently or distinguish them into short-term and long-term projections. Adding more than four projection scenarios including additional types of "low-variant"fertility could show a variety of future changes. We also expect Statistics Korea topay more attention to the determination of a base population that should include both national and non-national populations. Finally we hope that Statistics Korea will find a wise way to incorporate the ideas underlying the system of stochastic population projection as part of the official national population projection.