[Opinion] Low Birthrate, the 'Narrative' in Korean Society Must Change

Limited Prescriptions Only for Structural Causes of Birth Policy
Move Beyond Economic Support, Costs, and Loss Perspectives
Shift Awareness to Promote Family Values and Happiness

Recently, the vice chairman of the Low Fertility and Aging Society Committee was replaced after just one year. The de facto head of the committee stepped down halfway through the term. A former high-ranking official was newly appointed as the new vice chairman. If a former high-ranking official, known as a bulldozer-style pushmaster, becomes the head, can visible results be expected? Of course, a temporary rebound in the birth rate may occur. This is because the birth rate has been excessively low until now.

Stimulating modifiers such as "drastic measures" and "strong driving force" are appearing in discussions about the low fertility problem. This is evidence that the government takes low fertility seriously, but on the other hand, it also reflects the anxiety to somehow raise the birth rate within the current administration's term. The problem is that population policy is quite different in nature from other policies such as economic or industrial policies. Low fertility has complex and wide-ranging causes, and the effects of policies are minimal and results do not appear in the short term. It is not a matter that can be solved by drastic measures or strong driving force.

Population issues require patience and a long-term, multi-layered approach. Among the analytical techniques frequently used in futurism is "Causal Layered Analysis." It assumes that a single phenomenon or event has structural causes, theories that justify them, and the most fundamental cognitive level called "Metaphor." The deepest metaphorical level forms the way we view the world, that is, the "Narrative." Therefore, the deeper one goes into the metaphorical level, the more time it takes for any event or phenomenon to change.

The problem is that most of the low fertility measures so far have been limited to prescriptions for structural causes. Structural issues such as employment, housing, and education, along with their theoretical justifications, are representative examples. To solve the low fertility problem, the most fundamental cognitive level of our society’s "Narrative" must change. The narrative is imbued with individuals’ specific situations, experiences, worldviews, and visions.

The key keyword that runs through our society’s narrative related to low fertility is "cost (money)." Marriage, childbirth, and child-rearing require a lot of money, and opportunity costs must also be sacrificed. The narrative is based on ideas such as pensions being depleted due to low fertility and aging, the working population shrinking, and the economy contracting. The government also fails to escape the perception of linking childbirth only to economic support or economic value.

To fundamentally solve the low fertility problem, a narrative that moves away from the perspective of "cost" or "economic loss" is needed. For example, the narrative of our society should change to emphasize the precious value of family and the happiness that family brings. As someone in their mid-50s, I also remember the time when I had and raised children as the happiest and most precious time. Of course, there were difficult and hard times, but watching the children grow gave me joy and hope and motivated me to work harder.

The role of the media is especially important in changing our society’s narrative. The media continuously covers only the cost issues or the scale of economic support caused by low fertility. Excessive emphasis on economic aspects may rather provoke resentment among the younger generation. Articles and content that can convey the joy and happiness of marriage, childbirth, and child-rearing, as well as the preciousness of family, must be greatly increased. If our society’s narrative changes, although it may take time, the birth rate can rebound.

Seoyongseok, Professor at KAIST Graduate School of Future Strategy

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.