Page 74 - Zenith 2023-웹용

Zenith 2023 ↘ 5) Interview / Feature article 74

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Korea's Low Birth Rate

and Adolescent Pregnancy

The Effect of Adolescents' Gender Concepts on
Adolescents' Pregnancy

HIn recent years, South Korea has grappled with a
myriad of societal challenges that have shaped the fabric
of its demographic, health, and societal landscapes. At
the forefront of these challenges is the unprecedented
record low birth rate, marking a staggering 0.81
births per woman as of 2021. This decline in birth
rates, is not only a South Korean phenomenon but
also echoed in numerous developed nations, stands
emblematic of broader global demographic shifts.
Rooted in the intricacies of evolving societal norms,
economic paradigms, and dynamic shifts in family
planning perspectives, the plummeting birth rates raise profound concerns and pose multifaceted
challenges for policymakers and societal stakeholders alike.

However, amidst this demographic quandary, South Korea faces a distinctive quandary marked
by a significantly lower birth rate compared to its industrialized counterparts. This peculiarity
intensifies the urgency to delve deeper into the socio-cultural, economic, and policy-related
facets contributing to this unprecedented phenomenon.
Beyond demographic shifts, a disturbing trend emerges on
the landscape of global adolescent health: the persistent
challenge of adolescent pregnancies. According to data
provided by the World Health Organization (WHO), a staggering
21 million girls aged 15 to 19 years, predominantly in
developing regions, grapple with early pregnancies annually,
with an estimated 12 million giving birth. These statistics
intricately underscore a complex interplay of socio-economic
disparities, inadequacies in accessing sexual education and
contraceptives, and societal norms shaping early pregnancies. Addressing this pressing issue
necessitates a nuanced, region-specific understanding and culturally sensitive interventions to
mitigate this global challenge.

Concomitantly, a disconcerting surge in sexual offenses perpetrated by South Korean adolescents
has emerged, ringing alarm bells and demanding immediate, strategic actions. Recent statistical
revelations have starkly depicted a distressing escalation in reported rape incidents among cases