South Korea recognized two women with civilian service medals for their remarkable achievement of giving birth to 13 children each amid the country’s declining birth rate crisis. Eom Gye-suk and Lee Yeong-mi were honored for their significant contributions to society through their remarkable feat.
Eom had five sons and eight daughters between 1986 and 2007, while Lee had her first child at 23 and the last at 44. Both women expressed gratitude for their children and highlighted the challenges and joys of motherhood.
President Yoon Suk-yeol declared South Korea’s plummeting birth rate a “national emergency” and vowed to establish a ministry to address the issue. The country’s fertility rate has dropped to a record low of 0.78, significantly below the replacement level.
Various factors contribute to South Korea’s demographic crisis, including economic pressures, societal expectations, and limited support for working parents. The government offers financial aid and incentives to encourage couples to have more children, but the challenges remain significant.
Despite these efforts, the trend of declining birth rates persists, prompting a need for broader societal changes to support families and encourage population growth.
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