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South Korea, grappling with the world’s lowest birth rate, is witnessing a surge in demand for fertility treatments, offering a glimmer of hope in the nation’s ongoing demographic crisis.
Kim Mi-ae, a 36-year-old Seoul resident, experienced this firsthand when she began her second round of in vitro fertilisation (IVF) last November. Already familiar with the process from conceiving her first child three years ago, she was stunned by the long waits at her fertility clinic. “In January, it felt like everyone had resolved to have a baby! Even with a reservation, I waited over three hours,” she said. Despite the country’s persistently low birth rate—dropping to 0.72 babies per woman in 2023—fertility clinics are booming. Between 2018 and 2022, fertility treatments in South Korea surged by nearly 50% to 200,000, with one in six babies born in Seoul last year conceived through such methods. Experts attribute this trend to shifting attitudes among younger generations. “We have a young generation used to being in control of its life,” said Sarah Harper, a professor of gerontology at the University of Oxford. This includes single women freezing their eggs and couples turning to IVF to plan their families. South Korea’s demographic challenges are stark. One in five citizens is now over 65, and the population of 50 million could halve within 60 years if current trends persist. However, 2024 brought a slight uptick in the birth rate to 0.75, the first increase in nine years. “It’s a small bump, but meaningful,” said Seulki Choi, a professor at the Korea Development Institute. She added that sustained changes in attitudes toward marriage and parenthood could signal a longer-term shift. For many, like 35-year-old Park Soo-in, starting a family was once unthinkable due to demanding work schedules. After marrying two years ago and switching to a job with better hours, she began considering children. “Seeing friends’ kids and my husband’s proactive approach gave me confidence,” she said. When conception proved difficult, she turned to fertility treatments. The fertility industry, projected to be worth over $2 billion by 2030, reflects growing demand but also highlights barriers. Social pressures, including patriarchal norms that place childcare burdens on women, long working hours, and high education costs, deter many from having children. A UN report notes that over half of South Koreans want children but feel financially constrained. The average age for women having their first child is 33.6, among the highest globally. IVF is costly and unpredictable. Despite government subsidies—covering up to 2 million won (£1,100) for egg-freezing and 1.1 million won per IVF cycle—out-of-pocket expenses, such as supplements and tests, can exceed 2 million won per cycle. For Jang Sae-ryeon, a 37-year-old from Jeolla province, five IVF cycles over two years cost around 1.5 million won each, with no success. “Without money, you can’t move forward. That’s the reality,” she said. Workplace challenges add to the burden. While companies offer fertility treatment leave, many women, like Ms. Kim, avoid taking it, and Ms. Jang faced pressure to delay her treatment, ultimately leading her to quit her job. “IVF and a full-time job don’t mix,” she said. Despite these hurdles, Ms. Jang remains determined. Having suffered two miscarriages early in her marriage, she still dreams of parenthood. “Creating a family together is one of the greatest forms of happiness,” she said. South Korea’s government continues to expand support for fertility treatments as part of broader efforts to reverse the birth rate decline. However, with IVF success rates below 50%, and cultural and financial pressures persisting, the road to parenthood remains fraught for many.
