South Korea Shifts Demographic Strategy: From 'Boosting Birth Rates' to 'Societal Adaptation'
The South Korean government has announced its first-ever "Basic Plan for National Demographic Strategy" in response to the country's severe population decline and rapidly aging society. While previous policies focused on increasing birth rates and expanding welfare for the elderly, this new plan marks a significant shift in direction.
A key feature of the new plan is that it does not rely solely on the goal of increasing birth rates, but instead focuses on how to "adapt" to a society with a shrinking population. As South Korea has one of the lowest birth rates in the world, the government has determined that it is necessary to rethink the structure of society from a realistic perspective.
Specifically, the plan includes a policy to train new professionals to support young people and the elderly. The government aims to cultivate a workforce of 100,000 "care professionals" in the coming years. Through this, they aim to maintain social services and the quality of life even as the population declines.
This policy shift is not a distant issue for Japan. For Japan, which is facing similar challenges with a declining birth rate and an aging population, South Korea's efforts to adapt to a shrinking society are likely to draw significant attention moving forward.