Two children are good, but reality is one... "Because of the burden of childcare and education costs" 한국보건사회연구원 조사…2명 이상 낳는 가정 17년 만에 4분의 1 토막 KBS가 한국보건사회연구원과 함께 조사한 결과, 이상적인 자녀 수는 2.1명이지만, 실제 출생률은 0.9명에 그쳤습니다. According to a survey conducted by the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs, the ideal number of children is 2.1, but the actual birth rate is only 0.9. 보건사회연구원이 2003년과 2020년에 실시한 '전국 출산력 및 가족보건∙계획 조사' 결과를 비교해 봤습니다. Let's compare the results of the "National Fertility and Family Health and Planning Survey" conducted by the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs in 2003 and 2020. 2003년만 해도, '2명 이상의 자녀를 낳을 계획인가'라는 질문에 46.3%가 '그렇다'고 답했습니다. In 2003, 46.3% of respondents answered "yes" to the question, "Do you plan to have two or more children?" 하지만 2020년에 실시한 같은 조사에서는 11.8%로 급감했습니다. However, in the same survey conducted in 2020, the percentage dropped sharply to 11.8%. 2명 이상 자녀를 낳는 가정이 17년 만에 4분의 1로 줄어든 겁니다. This means that the number of households having two or more children has decreased to one-fourth in 17 years. 자녀를 한 명도 낳지 않는 가정은 2017년 3.6%에서 2020년 7.5%로 늘었습니다. The number of households with no children increased from 3.6% in 2017 to 7.5% in 2020. 보건사회연구원은 저출생의 원인으로 '양육과 교육비 부담'을 꼽았습니다. The Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs cited the burden of childcare and education costs as the cause of the low birth rate. 특히, '자녀 1명당 월평균 양육 비용이 100만 원 이상'이라는 응답이 2017년 57.6%에서 2020년 64.4%로 크게 늘었습니다. In particular, the percentage of respondents who answered that the monthly childcare cost per child is over 1 million won increased significantly from 57.6% in 2017 to 64.4% in 2020. 보건사회연구원 관계자는 "양육과 교육비 부담을 덜어주는 정책이 필요하다"고 말했습니다. A researcher at the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs said, "Policies that alleviate the burden of childcare and education costs are needed."
Seventy-one percent of the 1,000 adults aged 20 to 49 surveyed thought having children was necessary for a fulfilling life, whether for the happiness and meaning of the family (82.2%) or a sense of achievement and purpose (46.8%). The ideal number of children respondents wanted was 2 (58.9%), followed by 1 child (20.8%), 3 or more children (12.1%), and no children (8.2%).
While 71.0% of respondents aimed for two or more children, only 44.9% expected to have one child or more in reality. The primary reason for this discrepancy was the economic burden of raising children. All respondents cited "childcare and education expenses" (100% with possible duplicate responses) as the reason for having fewer children than desired.
Other factors included "difficulty balancing work and parenting" (40.4%) and "housing costs and housing environment issues" (36.6%). The most influential factor for actual childbirth was "economic stability" (first 71.5%, second 65.1%, third 63.9%). Additionally, government and local government policies were considered key social support factors, with their influence increasing with the number of children (first 26.5%, second 32.1%, third 36.3%).
The research concluded that "fundamentally, various factors such as economic factors, childcare and care duties, career breaks, and more impact childbirth, with the influence of policy, childcare and care responsibilities, and career interruptions increasing as the number of children grows."
Written by urgent.news from Hankyoreh's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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