Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Real Reality]

Gov't in All-Out Effort to Make Koreans Make Babies
The government will consider fresh incentives to families with more than two children to reverse Korea's declining birthrate after criticism that current cash rewards for a third child and help with the cost of upbringing are ineffective.
by Kim Dong-seop, Chosun Ilbo (February 28, 2005)
http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200502/200502280021.html

1. Should the government "make" Koreans "make" babies?
2. Would you want to have more than two children?
3. What incentives would encourage you to have more than two children?

[Pyongshin Sangja]

I made a baby last night out of SPAM. I call him Spammie. He's about 8lbs., 3 oz. I might eat his left leg tonight if I get hungry.

[marlow]

An already overpopulated country trying to get a bigger population is a step in the wrong direction I would say.

I think that two people having two kids is the most ethical thing to do in a world that will be strained even more by overpopulation if current trends continue.

[jinglejangle]

Low birthrate isn't the only concern here, they have to make up for rampant emmigration as well.

The problem seems to be a result of westernization, but I think that Korean societies traditional lack of regard for women, coupled with a decided tendency to take things to extremes, is compounding the problem. Lots of women here don't want kids period anymore, and the fact that having kids pretty much means the end of a woman's already 2nd class career in most Korean companies makes it unappealing to the career minded woman.

Koreans (the males with the power at least) still feel that a womans place is really in the home with the babies she should be busy making, and it's assumed as a safe bet that once a Korean woman becomes a mother, work will be much less of a priority for her.

I laud the super dedicated Korean mothers, but despise the corporations which refuse to make allowances for those with the highest non spiritual calling in the world.

[thebum]

I wouldn't mind helping women make babies if they're fit.

[Grotto]

[PolyChronic Time Girl]

Ha! I'm already being hounded by my fiance and his mother to have children. My future mother-in-law has given me a computer, cell phone, and key money to an apartment....I wonder if she is really this cool or is it a breeding incentive?

I can't believe the government would want to "make" people "make" babies. There's already too many kids running around here and too many people in the country period and they want to add growth to the already busting population? My students tell me that in China, a family has a 2 child-limit. Any baby over that results in a fine.

[canadian_in_korea]

I believe they are thinking the same way that Canada is thinking. If there aren't more babies there will be nobody to pay into the pension. Today in the paper there was an article that said "pension to bo gone by 2042" something like that....Canada has been preaching the same thing for a while now. The solution in Canada is to increase immigration....who know what will work.

polychronic time girl....what is your mother in law's personality like? My husband doesn't accept anything from his mom because that will give her a "say" in his life......but you are going to marry her son....maybe its a "welcome to the family" kind of gift.....or you are lucky and you just have a cool mother in law..

[mithridates]

As far as I know most countries encourage people to have children through financial incentives, and it's not weird at all. Since it's an incentive to just have more children and not necessarily to have the women at home, I don't see any problem with it. I've been thinking for a while that they need to do that anyway.

[Real Reality]

PolyChronic Time Girl wrote,
"My future mother-in-law has given me a computer, cell phone, and key money to an apartment."

A computer, cell phone, and key money can cost a lot of money. These are not small gifts. What was her motivation to give you the gifts (marriage or breeding incentive)? What made you accept them? Is PolyChronic Time Girl a charity?

A gift of money should be put in an envelope. Cash is popular for weddings, holidays [for children], birthdays, funerals, etc. When visiting a family, suitable gifts include crafts from your home region, fruit, cake, chocolates, flowers, imported coffee, etc. Imported liquor and cigarettes may be given to those who like to drink and smoke.
http://www.executiveplanet.com/business-culture-in/133546968117.html

[JacktheCat]

What the Korean government (as well as the Japanese and European governments) is worried about is not so much depopulation, as a population imbalance.

Twenty years down the road, Korea is going to have a whole load of old people and not enough young people.

Not enough young people to pay for the pensions and social security of all those old people.


Not to mention whats going to happen when all those 117 boys to 100 girls generation grows up.

[Ya-ta Boy]

JacktheCat is right. Korea is a rapidly aging society because of the low birth rate. It will get serious for them sometime soon.

They need a policy that gradually reduces the population. "Gradual" is the key word here.

However, I have had quite a few adult students tell me that Korea needs MORE people. When asked why, they say that population size means more wealth and power. (Some economist told them they need 40 million people to have a good domestic market.) I then ask why Singapore is richer than SKorea.

[PolyChronic Time Girl]

[superhal]

maybe you are really good looking. any mother, anywhere, really wants their grandchildren to be from good looking parents.

[just because]

I saw this tonight on the news.

My thinking is does Korea really need anymore frigging people corwded into here.

I understand that there will be too many old people and tax revenues will plummet(which is the key concern) plus North Korea is right there watching(but they are losing people too).

I can't believe they set a committee up called something along the lines of, the proper population for Korea that apparently stands at between 46-51 million and look, they are right in the zone now, whata frigging coincidence.

Who decides what the proper poulation should be. Sounds like some conservative confucian idiots.

I think deep down they are worried that they will have to get a lot of immigrants in to make up the shortfall...then Korea will have to open its arms. how shokcing that would be.