As South Korea records a slight rise in its birth rate for the first time in nine years, the Catholic Church urges a deeper, spiritual reflection on the issue, cautioning against a purely statistical or technological approach.
According to a report by Fides News Agency, the Church has been actively responding to the demographic crisis by emphasizing faith and hope in family life.
Father Oh Seok-jun, head of the Seoul Archdiocese Committee for Life, emphasized that the crisis is not “just a matter of numbers” and warned against solutions relying solely on reproductive technologies.
Instead, he called for a hopeful perspective, saying, “A child is a gift of grace granted by the Lord through the perfect union of love between a man and a woman.”
The Church, he said, encourages young couples to “look to the future with hope.”
As part of its commitment to fostering a culture of life, the Yeokchon-dong parish of the Archdiocese of Seoul organized a “Blessing Ceremony for Families with Three or More Children” on Feb. 23.
The initiative sought to encourage couples to embrace parenthood despite societal challenges.
Yuliana Kim Min-jeong, head of the parish’s family department, underscored its significance: “It was good for the faithful to see how couples with three children live a life of faith and turn to the Lord in these rough times. We hope that their testimony will have a positive influence and give encouragement and hope to young couples.”
The Korea Institute of Statistics reports that single-person households now account for more than 35 percent of all households, a sharp rise from 2.2 million in 2000 to 7.8 million in 2023.
Through its pastoral initiatives, the Church seeks to counter growing individualism by fostering positive socialization. It encourages young adults, particularly those who live alone, to engage in meaningful relationships based on self-giving rather than self-interest.
This mission aligns with the Holy Year’s motto, “Pilgrims of Hope,” reinforcing the Church’s commitment to promoting life and community values.
Meanwhile, demographic data released by the Korea Institute of Statistics shows that the number of births in 2023 reached 238,300—an increase of 8,300 from the previous year.
The total fertility rate rose slightly to 0.75, though it remains the lowest among OECD countries, whose average stands at 1.51.
