1. Research Objectives and Methods

1) Research background and goals

￮ (Background) Jeonbuk State recorded fewer than 15,000 births in 2015 and experienced a population dead cross in 2016. Its total fertility rate hit 0.97 in 2019 and plunged to 0.78 in 2023, ranking 13th among 17 cities and provinces and the lowest among metropolitan areas. Low birth rates are linked to societal issues in jobs, housing, and education. Additionally, changes in personal views impact marriage, childbirth, and childcare. Therefore, it is essential to evaluate how perceptions of these areas are changing among residents and to assess related policy needs.

￮ (Goals) Targeting young people, the primary demographic for marriage, pregnancy, childbirth, and childcare, we aim to analyze their evolving perceptions of these birth-related stages and identify their demand for low birth rate policies. Based on our findings, we will present viable policy roadmaps that resonate with the general public to address low birth rates. 

2) Research scope and methods

￮ (Spatial and temporal scopes) This study covers 14 cities and counties as well as the period from September 2024 to March 2025.

￮ (Methods) Literature review, analyses of various statistical datasets from Statistics Korea, geographic information system analysis, surveys, and in-depth interviews

2. Conclusion and Policy Recommendations

❚ Characteristics of Jeonbuk State’s youth perceptions and their policy demands

￮ The characteristics of the perceptions of marriage, childbirth, and childcare among young people in Jeonbuk necessitate the following: (1) assessing the causes of gender and age differences in perception and devising customized countermeasures, (2) exploring the causes of the increase in unmarried or childless households and seeking fundamental solutions, (3) expanding and strengthening local government policy support to promote work-life balance, (4) formulating detailed measures tailored to life cycle and specific stages (i.e., marriage, pregnancy, childbirth, and childcare) to combat low birth rates, (5) nurturing a positive view of marriage, childbirth, and childcare through mass media and the promotion of low birth rate policies, and (6) building feedback systems to make low birth rate policies more responsive and adaptive.

❚ Policy roadmaps and detailed action plans (draft) to navigate low birth rates in Jeonbuk State

￮ From the perspective of Jeonbuk youth, the policy roadmaps for responding to low birth rates will be presented by dividing them into marriage (pre-marriage), pregnancy (pre-pregnancy)/childbirth, and childcare, considering the necessary tasks at each stage. Therefore, we propose 17 action plans (draft) under two policy roadmaps.

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