South Korea Plays Cupid in Hopes of Raising Birth Rates
In a hotel ballroom adorned with colorful balloons and bright banners, 100 hopeful singles gathered for a matchmaking event. The event included a meet-and-greet, interactive games, free makeup services, and complimentary wine and chocolates. At first glance, the scene resembles a reality show taping for the media content industry, as this growing industry makes up a major export sector in South Korea. Rather, this was a government-planned and financed matchmaking event to reverse a precipitously low rate of marriage and birth.
According to some estimates, South Korea has one of the world’s lowest fertility rates. Earlier this year, data revealed that South Korea's fertility rate dropped to a record low, as the average number of expected babies per woman during her reproductive window fell to 0.78, a significant drop from 0.81 in 2021. To compare, in 2023, the fertility rate for the world was 2.418 births per woman, and in 2021, it was 2.438. Concurrently, marriage rates in South Korea have fallen 35 percent over the past ten years, a somber benchmark for the nation with the world's lowest anticipated childbirth rate per woman.
South Korean President Yoon stated in September that for the past 16 years, the government has been working to inject more than $200 billion USD into programs aimed at supporting new mothers, only to continue to watch the fertility rate drop more than 25 percent in that time span. The government pledged to increase the current stipend given to parents with children under the age of one from 300,000 won per month (about $230) to one million won ($765) by 2024.
As South Korea continues to confront the significant decline in birthrates, the government turns to a unique approach. South Korean cities are organizing mass blind-date events, started by Seongnam City, attracting over 460 participants so far. Participants in their 20s to 30s attend with hopes of finding love and, what the government hopes to see, more babies.
Many citizens criticize the government for failing to address the root causes of the steady decline of birth rates, as experts cite that entrenched gender disparities and a toxic overworking culture exacerbate South Korea’s low birth rates. Women working in Korea earn only 63 percent of what men earn, coupled with the fact that only 5.8 percent of women hold executive positions. While South Koreans continue to battle demanding work hours and a competitive business culture, women struggle with balancing careers and families. Therefore, when faced with the unfair decision of pursuing either a career or a family, many women choose their careers.
Despite debates over government intrusion into reproductive rights, blind-dating events are gaining popularity. Seongnam, for example, received over 1,000 applications for the 100 spots available in its recent events, selecting promising candidates after scrupulous background checks. Former participants consistently praise these mixers, showcasing a growing trend in seeking connections through structured social events. While some, like participant Hwang Da-bin, view it as a necessary response to the demographic crisis, others, including Professor Jung Jae-hoon from Seoul Women's University, dismiss it as insufficient. Jung insists that direct financial support for pregnancy, child delivery, and parenting should take precedence over such events to effectively boost birth rates.
South Korea is not alone in its fight against declining birth rates, as the world’s largest countries face fertility rate drops below the replacement rate, which sits at 2.1 births per woman. In the U.S., the fertility rate is 1.6, a 23 percent birth rate drop between 2007 and 2022. In China, still battling the effects of the strict one-child policy, the country has a birth rate of 1.2.
Therefore, South Korea’s approach to mass blind-date events adds a unique dimension to the global conversation on declining birth rates. It remains crucial for governments to balance such events with policies that directly target the structural issues contributing to low fertility rates.
While unconventional, these initiatives serve as a reminder that tackling demographic shifts requires a nuanced and adaptable strategy that considers both societal expectations and the underlying causes of declining birth rates.
Only time will tell if these unconventional matchmaking events will result in successful marriages and, subsequently, childbirths. Yet, such initiatives have certainly captured the interest of young people, sparking conversations and inspiring creative solutions to address the global challenges of declining birth rates. There is an old Korean adage: “Matchmaking can only result in one of two things: three drinks or three slaps.” The Korean government is about to find out which three they will receive.