The truth behind South Korea's birth decline: cash incentives aren't enough

It’s no longer rural areas that are facing population decline. In big cities and countries, the sound of playgrounds grows quieter each year, and small towns are slowly fading away.

This isn’t a dystopian novel; it’s the reality unfolding in South Korea today.

The nation is facing a population crisis, with birth rates dropping to historic lows and entire regions at risk of depopulation.

But beneath the headlines and statistics lies a story about women’s choices, shifting values, and why quick fixes may not be enough to turn things around.

South Korea’s famed “4B Movement” is one example of how deeply culture shapes personal decisions.

Originating as a bold feminist movement, 4B stands for “no dating, no sex, no marriage, no childbirth”, a declaration by thousands of young Korean women who are choosing autonomy over tradition.

The movement emerged as a response to what many describe as persistent gender inequality, rigid beauty standards, and the social pressure to marry and have children. But it’s not just about protest.

The “4B” philosophy alongside the “Escape the Corset” movement, which rejects restrictive beauty norms, reflects a wider shift in how young people view relationships, work, and family.

As Dr Seungmi Yang, a sociologist at Ewha Womans University, notes, “Women are demanding respect and equality before they consider marriage or motherhood.

They’re prioritising happiness and personal growth, and that’s changing the social fabric.

Cash for commitment: Will it work?

According to "The Korea Times", faced with these deep-rooted changes, South Korea’s government has tried to stop the population slide with a wave of cash incentives, some of them almost unimaginable in scale.

Local authorities across the country now offer everything from paid first dates to six-figure marriage bonuses.

• In Busan’s Saha District, couples can receive up to 20 million won (about $14,700) after participating in a government matchmaking event.
• Geochang County pays newlyweds up to 600,000 won a year, while Seoul and Gyeonggi Province are rolling out starter funds for young couples.
• Sunchang County offers 10 million won over four years for newlyweds who agree to settle in the area. But this is where it gets interesting, despite all these subsidies, marriage and birth rates keep falling.

Jinju City, for instance, handed out marriage grants to more than 4,000 couples since 2021, but the marriage rate didn’t budge.

Even in regions where large payouts have been standard for years, there’s little evidence of lasting impact.

Why are young people saying “No”?

It’s tempting to think money alone can solve social challenges. However, as experts point out, the roots of Korea’s demographic crisis run much deeper.

• Work-life imbalance: South Korea consistently ranks among the world’s top countries for long working hours and job stress. Many young adults feel forced to choose between career and family.
• Housing costs: The price of a home, especially in cities like Seoul, has soared, making it hard for young couples to envision a stable future.
• Parenting pressure: Raising a child is seen as expensive and demanding, with limited support for working mothers.
• Changing values: Surveys by the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs show many young Koreans now define happiness through personal achievement and relationships outside of marriage or parenting.

Dr Hong Suk-chul, an economics professor at Seoul National University, cautions: “Throwing cash at the problem won’t work unless we address structural issues, affordable housing, flexible work, and true gender equality.

"Otherwise, we risk repeating the mistakes of failed baby bonuses and childcare subsidies.”

For many Korean women, these policies miss the mark by failing to consider their lived realities. The decision to marry or have children isn’t just economic; it’s about respect, safety, balance, and mental health.

The 4B movement, while controversial, has forced an honest conversation about what women want from life and love.

As a woman and a mother, I see a valuable lesson here: real well-being comes from choice and dignity, not handouts. If we want societies to thrive, we must build environments where everyone, women and men, can pursue family, career, and self-care without fear or sacrifice.

What can be done?

• Experts agree on a few essentials:
• Flexible work policies so parents can balance careers and family.
• Affordable, accessible childcare for all income levels.
• Support for single parents and working mothers
• Cultural change that values women’s choice, whether they choose motherhood, career, or both.

South Korea’s population challenge isn’t just a warning for policymakers, it’s a wake-up call for all of us to rethink what truly makes a healthy, happy society.