The number of newborn babies in South Korea in the first half of this year plunged to its lowest level for the January to June period as young people have remained reluctant to marry and have children despite the government’s ongoing efforts to boost the country’s birth rate.

According to data from Statistics Korea on Wednesday, 188,500 babies were born in the first six months of this year, down 12.3 percent or 23,000 from a year earlier. This is the lowest figure since monthly data was first published in 2000. At this pace, Korea would see the annual number of births fall below 400,000 for the first time in the country’s history.

The number of newborns has declined at double-digit rates for the third consecutive quarter, a phenomenon unseen since 2013, according to data.

Korea’s fertility rate this year is expected to hit a fresh low of around 1.04 per woman, well below the replacement level of 2.1 children, a rate needed to maintain population without migration.

The plunge in the country’s birth rate comes after the marriage rate has plummeted. Most babies are born to newlyweds who are two to three years into their marriage. The downward trend in marriage numbers has intensified in recent years, with the marriage tally in the first half down 4.2 percent on year to reach a new low of 138,000.

High unemployment and soaring housing costs were cited as major dampers to marriage or parenthood. In order to boost the birth rate, the Korean government has implemented various measures including offering newly wedded couples housing options at affordable prices and subsidies for child caring services. But the latest data indicated the Korean government’s efforts to boost the birth rate are failing to make an immediate impact.

Lee Ji-hyun, an official at Statistics Korea, warned the number of newborn babies this year would fall below 360,000 and there is no expectation for any immediate breakthrough from the government’s policies that usually take time to boost the birth rate.

By Kim Se-woong

[ⓒ Pulse by Maeil Business News Korea & mk.co.kr, All rights reserved]