Challenges of Low Birth Rate in Korea

Korea's low birth rate is attributed to societal and economic structural policies, emphasizing material success over family and personal well-being.

### Analyzing the Low Birth Rate Issue in Korea and Suggesting Solutions
* 😬 A well-known figure recently visited Korea and expressed concerns about the country's low birth rate, attributing it to **long working hours** and **career interruptions**.
* 🇰🇷 Some people believe that the visitor lacks a **deep understanding of Korean society** and may not be able to **accurately assess the situation**.
* 💰 In a society where material success is highly valued, many people view having children as a **detrimental career move**.
* 👩 Returning mothers often face social stigma, contributing to the **low birth rate**.
* 🏆 The visitor emphasized the importance of **respecting the lives of ordinary people** and addressing the "**black syndrome**" mindset that belittles them.
* 📺 It is suggested that public broadcasting and online communities need to be reformed to promote a **more positive view of family and children**.
* 🌏 Creating a truly livable environment where people can lead fulfilling lives is seen as **crucial to addressing the low birth rate issue** in Korea.

Ladies and gentlemen, nice to meet you. Today, Korea is totally messed up, should I say that? You know that famous meme, right? While cutting his hair, Wow, Korea is totally screwed. There was a person who said that, and this person has come to Korea again. After coming to Korea, he did various things like filming at EBS and also had discussions at JTBC. But to be honest, I didn't feel like he shared stories that were very substantial. Why do I say substantial? I felt like, Oh, the leader is missing from the University of San Francisco Law School. That kind of thought crossed my mind. Honestly speaking, it's not a bad thing to reexamine the stories that person shared. Today, I'm going to talk about the latest news. First, JTBC News was a while ago, and recently, I saw that during the EBS filming, things like this happened.

It seems like we were discussing various stories, but when this person left JTBC and said, In a way, it seems like Korea has completely failed, the birth rate has actually dropped even further. It makes me think there might be some significance in the fact that they came back and gave an interview. However, during the first interview, they spoke with a very serious expression and said that Korea had completely failed. So, yeah, when they come back, they really go into the interview with a bright smile. But why this person thinks Korea has failed, well, they did suggest some solutions regarding meat, which was somewhat meaningful. But what kind of solutions did they propose? First of all, they mentioned that they are seeing such a low birth rate for the first time without a major epidemic or war. They even said that during times of war, the birth rate was higher than this, so you can imagine how serious this is.

The situation is like this. She talks about how difficult it is to give birth and raise a child, mentioning that it was hard for her as well. When she looks at Korea, she points out that working long hours is extreme and says she didn't work in a place where such long working hours were the norm. So, the first thing she mentioned was that the working hours at the workplace are very long. Well, it's true that working hours are long in Korea. I always feel that the problem is not just the minimum wage, but the comprehensive wage that needs to be eliminated. There are still many companies in Korea that use comprehensive wages. So, maybe if they take care of overtime pay regularly, wouldn't it be better? Anyway, she talks about these things and discusses the reasons that lead to low birth rates.

Korean who has is strange, I say. In my view, this person seems to lack understanding of Korea, isn't it? So, isn't this person one of those who cannot do it at all? Therefore, in the end, they talked about interrupting their career. They said that in Korea, if you have a child, someone has to give up their career, which is an extreme structure. But is this person talking without living in Korea? I can say this with certainty. So, if this person had lived in Korea, they probably wouldn't make such comments. Carrying such stories and the value of money, the choice in childbirth is obvious, it seems to be a region where this has more influence. The value of money is far more important. People commonly say that the happiness of my child is important, as well as my own happiness, right? Therefore, you have to eat delicious food, enjoy life, and have a bit of a luxurious feeling. So, it seems appropriate to approach it with a bit of a luxurious feeling. Therefore, there is a study quoted here.

The research quoted is about OECD's countries where most of them ranked family or health as their top priority. However, in Korea, money came out as the number one priority. So, when discussing this, the conclusion is that in Korea, having a child is considered a very bad career move. They talk about how in a society where material success is crucial, people calculate and prioritize prosperity, which is why they question why women would choose to give birth. Thus, returning mothers are often stigmatized, contributing to this mindset. Professor Williams mentioned that in many cases, in the Korean context, attaching money to information is not effective. He also mentioned something about workplace culture, aligning with life cycles, like when a child goes to school, as Oh Young often talks about those tight policies.

So, the conversation ended, and I really felt like I was lying when I watched this. I thought, Wow, even Harvard University is a piece of cake. I really felt like I was just a piece of cake now. I don't really know this person. I don't know what the problem is when I watch it. So, first of all, what was the reaction of the people watching this? They said, Even foreigners are doing so well, but what are those who just live off our taxes doing? You can't deny that. It's not because of low birth rates that the country is failing; it's failing, so there are low birth rates. It's the result of already failing. It's right to see it as a result of already failing. There are things like that. Don't call it a failed country. If it's an environment where you can have children, even if you say Nazi, it's okay. I'm saying this. What are people talking about when they say they want to have children in an environment where they can understand children? It's a bit ambiguous. Recently, someone came to me and talked about it, a certain subscriber.

One person is saying that young people nowadays have nothing to protect, so they don't feel the need to have children, so if we give them something to protect, like getting married and having children, then we can give them a house. That's what they are saying. So, if other people say that those who bought a house with money so far, what will happen to them? It keeps going up like this, starting with talks like this. People are becoming smarter. There are always jokes like We can't be slaves anymore. I think the temperature is now 0.6 degrees higher. Let's fail. This is what a 36-year-old man said. He couldn't extend his contract, saying he used his position as a military officer. He said this is normal in Korea. If you take a leave of absence, you should use it when you become a regular employee. If you want to be a foolish fool on the site, who will extend your contract?

I entered as a non-regular worker at the age of 36 and aimed for a contract extension. If you write a proposal, who will do that for you? It's not like you thought about doing that yourself. So, there were discussions like this. I see this issue as the true face of a depressed society. Korea is so depressed to a serious extent. Oh, that's true. And they say that in Korea, family comes first, but it's a country that doesn't encourage you to get married. Oh, but in Korea, family comes first, and you end up working all the time instead of going out more than the people at home. For someone like me who is not getting married, I just work all the time. They throw books at me. Promotion should be based on merit. It's right for me to be promoted first. You fools, you were mistaken about that. You guys didn't discuss anything, you just took care of each other. But that doesn't align with fairness. So, you have to compromise a bit on promotions. That's inevitable. So, what I'm saying is that the low birth rate is not what ruined our country.

I was talking about how social and economic structural policies are ruining me, but what caught my eye the most was this. It's a bit more eye-catching for me. Korea is a bit strange. The culture itself, to me, seems like this is the right answer. People live focusing too much on money itself, and each person's happiness and definition of success are different. However, society pressures you as if social status is the only answer. There is no clear standard on where we should reach now. I have to show off more than others, and now the standards of success are higher than before, and the value of labor is being diminished. This is a problem. In my opinion, we should always respect the lives of ordinary people and now there is no need to follow ordinary people. People who say you should only watch YouTube are like parts. The standards of success are higher than before, and the value of labor is being diminished. This is a problem. In my opinion, we should always respect the lives of ordinary people and now there is no need to follow ordinary people. That's why what I want to say is this.

Why did I say why did I say such a thing, I don't even know this person. To tell this story accurately, I think other foreigners can tell it. For example, in the abnormal summit, there is Tyler, and there are people like Illya. They would tell the story accurately. And probably those friends will say something similar in the final interview. So, what really made me laugh was that in our country, what is it, working, getting married, having children, and now career interruptions, it's really funny. Everyone, in the United States, they have things like maternity leave, which is tough. It's tough. In our country, these days, many people use up all their leave in a year. It's true. When moms use it, they suffer, right? But in the United States, there are things like maternity leave, and everyone, this is tough. Even the companies are really good, and you can use it. Think of it as that kind of feeling, and also.

Well, it's different, but now, like in California, it's going pretty well, but here, the kids are not doing well. They've been resting for more than three months. They're treated like a [__]. Really, in a place like this, if you rest for more than three months, it feels like you're a bit like this. Even if you say You're fired once, it's a country where you get fired. Oh, in a place like this, Korea is really doing well with this free childcare system. So, even in the case of my younger sibling, I was surprised later and asked. After using up all the toilet paper, later, they did the laundry in their own room alone. There was no husband, and they went back and forth to China. Hey, is that okay? So, it's possible. After a year at the daycare center, they said they would take care of it from that time. Oh, is that possible? Of course, it's right for the child to continue to have attachment with their parents, but systemically, it's much better than the United States.

Things are going well in South Korea right now, but American people coming over and talking about things like the maternity leave system in South Korea was quite amusing to me. I found it really funny. That's why I always say that the social perception in South Korea is more like hardware over software. We need to refresh things that are breaking down with software, but it's already gotten to a point where it's hard to fix. So, as I mentioned, in countries like Japan, you see a lot of cases where the child is born and raised together. When you go to Ueno Zoo or places like that, you see a girl coming alone and saying it's good to watch with the child. While watching the animals, the child may not remember it, naturally, just like animals. But it seems that it leaves a good emotional memory for the child. That's how children's emotions are formed. So, the mother takes care of the child like that.

Even if they exist, when it comes to Korea, they ask their husbands where they are going and what they are doing. But over there, even in difficult circumstances, they manage to live well. Frankly, many Japanese people receive salaries around 200,000, some even earn around 300,000. So, Japanese women are satisfied and live well. But in Korea, it's like, Oh, they are fools, so we need to change these kinds of mindsets. People are just going crazy, thinking that South Korea is good enough. But in reality, they are ruined by this mental black syndrome. This black syndrome part is what needs to be addressed first, but Korea is just talking about something else. No one takes a stick to those crazy people. They need to be disciplined, but that's not happening.

Things have become a problem, so what I've talked about before, like childbirth, rest, and things like that, would be nice if they improve. It's good if everything is good, but the most important thing is that ordinary people's ordinary lives should be respected. However, South Korea doesn't have that. These kinds of cultures that spread such things, where are they spreading from? If you look at the forces of evil, you can see them in places like women's communities and mom cafes. So, in my opinion, these places need to be regulated first. Ultimately, leaving out things like career breaks and now being overly concerned with superficial things, abstract talks that don't have clear answers. That's why today, I want to talk about this much. You may or may not agree with my thoughts, but in a truly livable environment, where you can live well, but if that happens, then the kids...

No, but as I mentioned earlier, family is not the top priority. Even now, on television, they talk about families and even say that family is a disposable item. So, the top celebrities in South Korea, those influencers, are having a discussion. Who would want to have a child, right? Children are consumers. They are openly talking about it. So, they are saying that even public broadcasting needs to be revamped. Seriously, revamp public broadcasting, revamp online communities. So, in order to change this, those women who are suffering and dying painfully need to keep coming out in the media. While watching that, even if there are 300 bugs next to me, Oh, that was such a good Pokémon, feeling grateful, that moment when we can go up.

I wonder if such a day will come. Even if it does, it probably won't be too late, right? That's the kind of thought that comes to my mind. So, today's story ends here. I will see you next time with a more interesting story. That's all. Thank you.

아직 탈출 안했음? (Feat.조앤 윌리엄스)

어반님

The Return of a Controversial Figure to Korea

A controversial figure has returned to Korea and made appearances on EBS and JTBC, discussing the country's issues, particularly the dropping birth rate.

The individual highlighted the challenges of long working hours and low wages as significant factors contributing to the low birth rate in Korea.

They also proposed solutions related to improving working conditions and regularizing overtime pay to address the issue.

Misconceptions About Parenthood and Career in Korea

There is a misconception that having a child in Korea requires sacrificing one's career, influenced by the prioritization of money and success in the society.

The stigmatization of returning mothers and the societal emphasis on material success contribute to the view of parenthood as a bad career move in Korea.

The focus on prosperity and the tight workplace policies aligned with the life cycle contribute to the challenges of balancing parenthood and career in the Korean context.

The Impact of Social and Economic Policies on Society in Korea

Young people in Korea feel less inclined to have children due to societal and economic pressures, leading to a declining birth rate.

The focus on money and social status is diminishing the value of labor and creating higher standards of success, impacting the lives of ordinary people.

There is a growing sense of societal pressure to prioritize status and success, rather than individual happiness and fulfillment.

Comparing Maternity Leave Systems: South Korea and the United States

South Korea's generous maternity leave system contrasts with the lack of support in the United States, which was amusing to the speaker.

South Korea's focus on childcare and parental attachment is seen as a positive contrast to the situation in the United States.

The speaker also highlights the difference in social perception between the two countries, emphasizing the need for a software refresh in South Korea's societal approach.

Japanese women are satisfied with their lives, while there is a need to change mindsets and address mental health issues in South Korea.

There is a lack of discipline and respect for ordinary life in South Korea, with a call to regulate influential cultural spaces.

The focus on superficial matters and abstract discussions is overshadowing the real issues faced by ordinary people in South Korea.

The Impact of South Korean Celebrities on Views of Family

South Korean celebrities are openly discussing the idea that family is a disposable item and that children are consumers, leading to a shift in societal priorities.

There is a call to revamp public broadcasting and online communities to address the issue and give a voice to women who are suffering.

The influence of celebrities on these views raises questions about the future societal values and the need for change in the media.