Global Overpopulation In South Korea

Is global overpopulation really happening or not? Based on the studies conducted by the United Nations Population Division, 83 out of 195 countries, 196 including Taiwan, representing almost half of the world’s population, are conforming into this major demographic trend of being below the fertility replacement level since the last midcentury (Chamie, Opinion para. 1). Among these countries, including all European countries, a few North American countries, and some Asian countries, is “The Land of the Morning Calm,” South Korea. In order for a country to reach the replacement level and stabilize its population, the average fertility rate must be at least two births per woman (Chamie, Humanity’s para. 3). However, South Korea’s birthrate has …show more content…
Yes, global overpopulation is still happening. Decrease in fertility rate does not necessarily mean decrease in population (Noack para. 7). Highly developed countries, like South Korea, are just not producing more natives because: the cost of living is expensive alone and much more with a dependent, the government has intervened so much in the past that netizens are now done with the puppeteering going on because they have become accustomed to the past policies being convenient in today’s economic status, and women now are as free as men to do whatever they desire. Concerned with the nation’s economic growth, shrinking labour force, and national military defense, the South Korean government, in fact, has tried promoting various draconian policies and schemes to change the country’s fertility status -- yet again. With only raising the birthrate in mind and ignoring the possible serious, undesired repercussions that comes along with it, the pronatalist government is planning to “prohibit contraception, sterilization, abortion, and the education and employment of women” (Chamie, Analysis source 2). In addition, the government is also planning on “promoting marriage, childbearing, and parenting through public relations campaigns, incentives, and preferences” highlighting the critical role of motherhood and its contribution to the nation (Chamie, Analysis para. 5). Relying on motherhood as the netizens’ duty to maintain the country’s population as an act of patriotism and civic duty sounds like something from George Orwell’s 1984. These measures obviously attracted negative attention for violating the citizens’ basic human rights and “unwarranted government interference and meddling in women’s lives” (Chamie, Opinion para 17). Moreover, the consequences that will for sure come along with these policies were brought to light such as: “higher levels of unintended