The Research Of Causes For Low Fertility In The Republic Of Korea

The Republic of Korea's fertility rate has experienced a rapid decline stage since 1960s. From 2001 and on, the Republic of Korea became one of the lowest-low fertility level countries in the world in 2001. The problems brought by the low fertility level make the Korean government a headache. What are the causes that make the Korean fertility continue to fall?This paper analyzes the problem and proposes three important causes of the decline: the first is the effective implementation of family planning programs; the second is the economic and social modernization; the third is the fundamental change in the concept of fertility. In the first phase of fertility decline, family planning project played a major role. In this phase, the government as the organizers exerted a strong role in controlling and guiding. In the second phase of fertility decline, socio-economic factors and changes in people's concept of fertility play an important role. The modernization of Korean society, such as the drop of mortality, industrialization, urbanization, social security system consummation, the popularity of education, the intensified employment competition, etc., make the people form a rational attitude toward fertility behavior and emphasis on the quality of their children. At this stage, individual self-control on fertility plays a dominant role.The modernization of society and the fundamental change of people's birth idea are the main reasons for the sustained fertility decline in today's Korea. This conclusion has a very good reference for a comprehensive assessment of the role of Chinese family planning policy in the process of fertility decline and making clear the adjustment direction of China's population policy.