Introduction
 
 
A demographic shock wave emanating
from low birth and population aging
is rippling throughout the country at an
accelerating pace.
A structural problem of “local extinctions” has become
evident, surpassing
a shrinking workforce caused by population decline and
domestic financial crisis.
 
Despite huge efforts invested by
the Korean Participatory government
such as the Framework Act on Low Birth Rate
in an Aging Society
enacted in 2005 and drawing up policies aimed at promoting
population
and society, South Korea is at a critical juncture of facing a
terrible crisis
called demographic cliff. In reality, South Korea faced the
first phase
of demographic crisis between 1982 and 1984, followed
by the second
phase between 2000 and 2002, and further experienced
the third demographic
cliff shock between 2015 and 2020.
What is worse, its total fertility rate
reached a record low called the “dead cross,” 
a phenomenon in which the number
of newborns is smaller than that of the deceased. 
This means that population may decline naturally.
 
Although the government has spent
annually by each budget unit
(a total of KRW46.7 trillion in 2021), it
registered the lowest birth rate
among Organization for Economic Co-operation
and Development (OECD)
member countries. Furthermore, the total number of
newborns is expected
to reach 0.7 births compared to 0.81 last year and hit 0.6
births next year.
The Korea National Statistical Office forecasts that South
Korea’s total fertility rate
will be below 1 percent by 2030.
 
Due to the demographic shock, we
are likely to witness the “local extinctions”
phenomenon in which the number of
people in provinces is significantly reduced.
In big cities, population density is on the rise, while fertility rate is dropping
due to fiercer competition in
a society.
By contrast, a mismatch has become more serious as a relatively
higher fertility rate
is shown in provincial areas, yet infrastructure for life
is moving to Seoul
and metropolitan areas.
 
As such, promoting childbirth and
government-wide support for certain policies
may not be a good response to
address the demographic cliff.
An ecological approach covering politics, economy and society is required
by taking aims at promoting quality of life and
value of happiness in the future.
In terms of polarization and balanced
development, local extinctions can be one of
major issues to be resolved in
association with demographic problems.
At an opportune moment, the new Korean
government is also seeking ways
to draw up a new population policy that
encompasses low birth, population aging
and local extinctions from a holistic
perspective.
 
Thus, the Financial News, one of
the Korean first-class newspapers focusing on economy,
will host the 5th Seoul
Population Symposium under the theme of
“Overcoming Rural Depopulation... Seek Balanced Deveoplment in ecology.”
With a global perspective, this year’s event will feature programs
with a particular
focus on reviewing cases of Japan and North European
countries that faced low birth rate,
population aging and local extinctions
earlier than South Korea.
At the event, Masuda Hiroya, a professor at the University of Tokyo, will propose
alternative solutions to
prevent local extinctions as he noted the first local extinction index
in his
book titled “Local Extinctions.”
Also, participants will introduce cases of
overcoming local extinctions
in European countries and discuss effective
management of government fiscal budgets
and solutions at the event.
 
On the occasion of the
post-pandemic era, the 5th Seoul Population Forum will provide
a venue for
open, nation-wide discussion with an aim to address
the most serious national
problems, including depopulation and local extinctions.
We look forward to your
active participation.
 
 
 
Overview
 
TITLE : The 5th Seoul
Population Symposium
 
THEME : Overcoming Rural Depopulation… 
                Seek Balanced Development in ecology
 
DATE : July
7th (Thursday), 09:00-13:00
 
VENUE : Park Ballroom,
Conrad Seoul
Hotel
 
HOST : The Financial
News, Seoul Population Forum,
             National Council for Comprehensive
Parenting Support Centers,
             Non-profit
organization Low Fertility and Aging Policy Committee
 
SPONSORS : National
Assembly Health and Welfare Committee, 
                       Ministry
of Health and Welfare, Ministry of Gender Equality and Family,
                       The Presidential
Committee on Low Fertility and Aging Society,
                       Population Health and Welfare
Association, National
Pension Service
 
INQUIRY : Seoul Population Symposium Secretariat
                  Tel. 02-6965-0016, E-mail. hyewon.n@fnmice.com