Part 8/11:
Compounding these issues is a drastic decline in birth rates, exacerbated by the soaring costs of living, especially in urban centers like Seoul. Here, family structures face immense challenges—children are perceived primarily as economic burdens rather than future contributors to family or society. This has fostered a culture of reluctance toward marriage and parenthood, with social stigmas surrounding single parenthood further complicating the situation.
Even amidst these spirals, the South Korean government has hesitated to enact progressive reforms that could alleviate some of these socio-economic pressures.