By Yoo Yeon Gyeong

The rise in the nation's total fertility rate (TFR) for the first time in nine years has received heightened coverage by foreign media.

Reuters and The Times of the U.K. attributed such growth to proactive government policy toward raising the number of births and cooperation between companies and local governments.

Statistics Korea on Feb. 26 released a population trend report on the country's birth and death statistics, saying the number of babies born last year was 238,300, up 3.6% (8,300) from that of 2023. The increase in the figure also raised the TFR last year to 0.75, up from 0.72.

The total fertility rate refers to the average number of births a woman is expected to have during her childbearing years (ages 15-49). Both the number of newborns and the TFR grew for the first time since 2015.

Reuters on Feb. 26 ran the story "South Korea's policy push springs to life as world's lowest birthrate rises." Based on an interview with Senior Secretary to the President for Population Policy You Hye-mi, the report said President Yoon Suk Yeol last year "proposed a new ministry devoted to tackling the 'national demographic crisis,' aiming for a broader approach from earlier years of less-effective cash-focused support."

The article said the main policies that led the rebound in the number of births included expansion of paid parental leave, longer paternity leave, support for staff at small and medium companies who take parental leave, mandatory inclusion of child care-related statistics in regulatory filings by companies and tax exemptions on corporate bonuses for newborns.

The Times on Feb. 22 described the incentives offered in Gwangyang, Jeollanam-do Province, and Hwaseong, Gyeonggi-do Province, in its article "How South Korea put its 'extinction' birthrate crisis into reverse."

In Gwangyang, about 100 partner companies of steelmaking giant POSCO operate daycare centers, resulting in the number of births growing 13% in the region.

Hwaseong expanded eligibility for subsidies to households with two children in addition with those with three and the support amount from KRW 1 million from the third child to KRW 1 million for the first child, KRW 2 million for the second and third each, and KRW 3 million from the fourth. The city now has the nation's highest number of families with three or more children.

The Times said the government raised the birth rate through aggressive incentives such as housing support, free medical services and tax deductions. It also mentioned the nation's potential for overcoming its low birth crisis, citing the number of births in November last year jumping 15% year on year.

Though birth rates have "'tumbled' in all major western nations since 1950," Korea's case shows that the proper policies can lead to a rebound, it added.

Younggwang-gun County, Jeollanam-do, last year had the country's highest TFR for the sixth straight year. It offers a subsidy of KRW 5 million for the first child and KRW 35 million from the sixth; transportation card worth KRW 300,000 for pregnant women; infertility treatment worth KRW 300,000 to KRW 1.5 million; postpartum care worth KRW 500,000 for each birth; and congratulatory gifts for newborns (KRW 300,000).

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