SEOUL — A recent survey reveals a significant positive shift in the perceptions of marriage and childbirth among South Koreans in their 20s, 30s, and 40s over the past year, sparking hope for a potential reversal of the nation's low birth rate trend.

The Presidential Committee on Low Birth Rate and Aging Society announced the results of its fourth "Survey on Perceptions of Marriage, Childbirth, Child-rearing, and Government's Low Birth Rate Policies." Conducted in August, the survey included 2,800 men and women aged 25 to 49, allowing for a year-long tracking of public opinion.

The findings show a clear upward trend in positive perceptions. The proportion of respondents with a positive view on marriage and childbirth rose from 70.9% in the first survey to 74.5% in the latest one. This change was particularly pronounced among unmarried men and women, whose positive perception of marriage jumped by 6.7 percentage points to 62.6%. The intention to marry also saw a notable increase, rising 3.5 percentage points to 64.5%. For those who wish to marry but remain single, the leading reason cited was the high cost of "marriage funds" (77.1%).

Key Drivers and Policy Priorities 

The shift in attitude toward childbirth was even more dramatic. The percentage of all respondents who believe children are necessary climbed to 70.8%, a significant 9.7 percentage point increase. Among unmarried individuals, this figure saw a remarkable 11.2 percentage point jump, reaching 61.2%. Among respondents without children, the intention to have them increased by 7.6 percentage points to 40.2%. For unmarried individuals without children, this intention rose by 10 percentage points to 39.5%.

Respondents indicated that certain conditions could further boost the desire to have children. The top conditions were "if I had more income" (34.6%) and "if I could use parental leave freely" (22.1%). This suggests that improving economic conditions and supporting a better work-life balance could be key to boosting the birth rate.

When asked about priorities for low birth rate policies, the highest response rate was for "providing equal support to all" (29.8%), followed by "married couples without children" (26%), and "unmarried young people" (24.3%). However, a clear gender difference was observed, with men prioritizing support for unmarried young people (29.3%) and women favoring equal, universal support (36.2%). The most important areas for addressing the low birth rate issue were identified as "marriage, childbirth, and child-rearing" (88.2%), "work-life balance" (86.7%), and "housing" (85.7%).

The Committee stated that it views these survey results as a positive signal for a potential turnaround in the low birth rate trend. The findings will be used to inform the government's population policies, focusing on the specific demands and shifting perceptions of the public.