Page 51 - Issue 71

VOL.1 , ISSUE 71OL.1 , ISSUE 71
V ELITE

What may have a role in this regard is Based on what was explained about how

individualism, which is based on placing young people suffer from society and its
individual interest above societal interest. policies, we shouldn’t be quick to say they
This is a foreign idea in South Korean are selfish. It’s not right to put pressure on
society, which is based on Confucian values individuals for the interest of society,
that place great value on the family and especially when the society is the one that
consider it as the cornerstone of society. The caused this crisis with its own rules and
reason behind the spread of this idea is the ideas. What should really happen is to solve
influence of Western societies, which are the problems that stop people from creating
themselves based on this idea. This mainly families. Simply, if the reason goes away,
shapes individual behavior, making people the result will also go away. So, when young
prioritize their ambitions and careers over people delay having kids or decide they
the sustainability of society. don’t want, we should see it as a reaction to
their living conditions, not just a choice. In
this way, the birth crisis becomes a sign of

how young people are unhappy with the
system, unless the reasons behind it are
solved.
One solution can be giving job security to
parents, so they can manage their time
better between work and family. This can
increase the chance of having children and
Men and women alike suffer in South help raise the birth rate. Also, immigration
Korean society from work addiction and can be used even if it’s not the full solution,
intense competitiveness which make work- because it won’t replace the original
life balance more difficult. This has led population, but it can help reduce the
individuals to refrain from having children. shortage in labor force. This has worked in
Evidence of this can be seen in the capital, other countries that face aging problems.
Seoul, where the fertility rate has dropped
to 0.55, which is even lower than the Through solving these problems which are
national average. related to youth and their decision on
creating families, we can get a mutual land

that serves individual and societal interests
without any transgressions.

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