In brief
238,300 babies were born last year, marking a glimmer of hope amid the nation's ongoing population issues.
In a surprising turn of events, South Korea reported an increase in the number of births for the first time in almost a decade. The nation experienced an encouraging 3.6% rise in births last year, with 238,300 babies welcomed into families—8,300 more than in 2023. This shift in trend brings hope to government officials who have struggled with the country’s notoriously low fertility rate.The uptick in births is linked to an increase in marriages, many of which had been postponed during the COVID-19 pandemic. This cultural norm in South Korea dictates that couples typically marry before having children. Park Hyun-jung, an official from the government’s statistic agency, noted that the rise may reflect a change in social values, with improved attitudes towards marriage and parenthood.Despite this small victory, experts caution against assuming this is a long-term trend. The country still faces significant challenges in reversing its dwindling population, as the elderly demographic continues to outnumber youth. Last year alone, the death rate increased to 358,400.
