Can Korea's birth rebound close its demographic gap?

South Korea’s fertility rate is extending a tentative recovery from its record low, raising hopes that the annual figure could top 0.9 for the first time in seven years. The rebound, however, is unlikely to alter the country’s demographic trajectory on its own. Even as births rise, Korea’s child population continues to shrink while the number of older people grows rapidly, prompting calls for fiscal reform and a broader immigration strategy. The total fertility rate, or the average number of chi