This photo taken on May 24, 2017 shows social workers caring for babies at the Jusarang Community Church in southern Seoul. The number of abandoned babies has jumped in recent years in the wake of a law intended to protect children (Photo by JUNG Yeon-Je / AFP)
By LiCAS.news
Apr 9 2024
Conducted from June to September 2023, the survey highlights a consensus that the decision to have children should lie with women, moving away from traditional beliefs about societal obligations.
This shift comes as South Korea and its neighbors face a demographic challenge: a fertility rate at historic lows, despite government efforts to counter the decline.
The survey showed that less than a third of adults in South Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Vietnam view childbearing as a societal obligation. Instead, a majority support personal choice.
South Korea and Vietnam have the highest percentage of adults with traditional views (29% each), while Japan (13%) and Taiwan (16%) have the lowest.
Differences in opinion are pronounced among demographics. Older adults, especially those over 55, are more likely to hold traditional views, in contrast to younger generations.
Gender and educational differences are evident, with men and those with less education more inclined toward viewing childbearing as a duty.
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