A survey conducted by the Korean Institute of Health and Society in August 8 showed that only half of people aged 2023 to 19 said they wanted to get married.
Among those intending to get married, less than half expressed intentions to have children in the future.
The results of this survey were just announced by the Presidential Committee on Population Policy and Aging Society of Korea on March 17.
In terms of gender, 56,3% of men said they were ready to get married, while this rate of women was 47,2%. By age group, the rate of willingness to get married gradually decreases with age: 58,7% for people aged 30-34 and begins to decrease from 35 years of age and older.
When asked if they were willing to have children, 46% of survey participants said "do not intend to have children". Only 28,3% are willing to have children. However, among married respondents, 46,5% said they were "thinking about having children" and 24,7% responded "will not have children". Among married respondents with at least one child, 76% were not willing to have another child.
93,9% of survey respondents agreed that the decline in the total birth rate is a “social problem”. Most believe that "difficulties in working and taking care of children" is the cause.
Another report published by the Korea Women's Development Institute (KWDI) highlights the large care burden that women must shoulder, even in dual-income households (both parents work). On average, mothers spend nearly 12 hours a day taking care of their children, much higher than the nearly 8 hours spent by child care centers, 4 hours by fathers and nearly 4 hours by grandfathers. grandma.
KWDI concluded that the burden of childcare before and after work falls mainly on mothers. From 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. every day, mothers spend 60 to 80% of their time taking care of children, while fathers only spend 10%. During the work day, this burden shifts to daycares or grandparents but then returns to the mother at the end of the day. As of 18 p.m., the childcare ratio is 55% for mothers and 20% for fathers.
According to KWDI, care for infants and young children falls mainly on mothers, whether they work or not, clearly showing gender inequality in the division of child care. Therefore, the agency recommends restructuring the work environment to balance childcare and work, as well as re-establishing a reliable public care environment.
Huy Phuong (Follow Korea Herald)
