KIHASA held the 36th Population Forum

- Discussing the Findings of the Survey on Public Perceptions of Low Birthrate and Aging Society: Focusing on Marriage, Childbirth, and Generational Values

• ■Two sessions, each focused on low birthrate and aging, provided an in-depth analysis and presentation on public perceptions and values concerning these issues.
  
  

• ■Following the opening remarks, the event featured a special lecture on "Analysis of Changes in Fertility Rate Differences by Education and Income" and presentations on "Public Perceptions and Values Regarding Marriage, Childbirth, and Family Formation" and "Public Perceptions and Values Regarding Age Norms, Age Discrimination, and Generational Conflict."
  
  

• ■Since its inception in 2014, the Population Forum has become a leading platform for discussing key population issues in Korean society, such as low fertility, aging, demographic change, policy responses, regional extinction, and public perceptions and values.
  
  

• ■KIHASA held the 36th Population Forum on Friday, December 20, at Andante Hall, Yangjae El Tower. The forum was themed "Survey Findings on Public Perceptions of Low Birthrate and Aging Society: Focusing on Marriage, Childbirth, and Generational Values."
  
  

• ■KIHASA's Population Forum, a flagship initiative of its Population Policy Planning Division, addresses key population issues in Korean society, including low fertility, population aging, demographic change, public perceptions and values, and regional extinction. Since its launch in 2014, this annual forum has aimed to discuss these challenges and propose policy solutions, marking its 11th year this year.
  
  

• ■This forum began with opening remarks by Acting President Kang Hye-kyu, followed by a morning special lecture by Professor Gye Bong-o (Kookmin University) on "Analysis of Changes in Fertility Rate Differences by Education and Income."
  
  

• ■The afternoon session on low fertility and population aging each consisted of a presentation and a panel discussion:

• -The Session on Low Fertility from 1:00 pm to 2:10 pm, chaired by Professor Lee Cheol-hee of Seoul National University, featured a presentation by Dr. Kim Eun-jung, Associate Research Fellow of KIHASA, on "Public Perceptions and Values Regarding Marriage, Childbirth, and Family Formation," followed by a Panel Discussion with Dr. Kim Young-a (Korea Labor Institute), Professor Yoo Sam-hyun (Hanyang University), Dr. Cho Mi-ra (Korea Institute of Child Care and Education), and Dr. Cho Sun-mi (Korea Women’s Development Institute).
   
  

• -The Session on Population Aging from 2:10 pm to 3:20 pm, chaired by Professor Ahn Tae-hyun of Sogang University, featured a presentation by Dr. Choi Kyung-duk, Associate Research Fellow of KIHASA, on "Public Perceptions and Values Regarding Age Norms, Age Discrimination, and Generational Conflict," followed by a panel discussion with Dr. Park Jong-sik (Korea Labor Institute), Dr. Ahn Soo-ji (National Assembly Futures Institute), Professor Lee Hee-jung (Dongduk Women’s University), and Professor Cho Yoon-joo (Sungshin Women’s University).

• ■The Citizen Panel Discussion, moderated by Professor Hwang Sun-jae of Chungnam National University lasted from 3:40 pm to 4:30 pm.

• -Eight citizen panelists representing different age groups shared their thoughts on the survey results and discussed issues such as the need to marry and have children, diverse family structures, societal expectations by age, and generational conflict.

Acting President Kang Hye-kyu said, "This year’s Population Forum focuses on exploring in depth public perceptions and values regarding the low fertility and an aging society. As the age of marriage and childbirth continues to rise and the aging process accelerates, we hope that this survey will serve as an important platform for the future development of population policies."