Ju Hyeong-hwan, the vice chairman of the Low Fertility and Aging Society Committee, said on the 27th that "this year's total fertility rate is expected to be 0.74, significantly exceeding the initially anticipated 0.68."
Vice Chairman Ju held the 7th population emergency measures meeting on this day and noted, "A moment for reversing the low birth rate trend has recently formed."
He noted, "According to the October population statistics, the number of births exceeded the 20,000 mark and increased for four consecutive months compared to the same month last year, and marriage registrations also increased by more than 20%, rising for seven consecutive months."
The statistics Vice Chairman Ju presented as evidence of the reversal in the low birth rate trend are the population trends announced by Statistics Korea the previous day. According to this announcement, the number of births in October this year increased by 13.4% compared to the same month last year, reaching 21,398. This is the highest growth rate in 14 years for October since 2010 (15.6%). The cumulative number of births from January to October this year was 199,999, a 1.9% increase compared to the same period last year.
Vice Chairman Ju stated, "Overall, this year, the number of births is expected to increase for the first time in nine years since 2015, reaching the upper end of the 230,000 range."
He added, "We must also prepare and respond to the rapidly increasing issue of the elderly," noting, "As of Dec. 23, the population aged 65 and over accounted for more than 20% of the nation's registered residents."
Vice Chairman Ju stated, "Considering the unprecedented and unexpectedly rapid pace of aging globally, we do not have much time," adding, "We will prepare measures to become a super-aged society across various sectors swiftly."