SPOTLIGHT 24/09/04 South Korean Churches urged to help families raise kids

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South Korean Churches urged to help families raise kids

The East Asian nation has the world’s lowest birth rate and is spending billions since 2006 to reverse the trend

The facade of Yoido Full Gospel Church in southern Seoul's Yeongdeungpo district. (Photo: Yoido Full Gospel Church/Korea Times)

By UCA News reporter

Published: September 05, 2024 12:19 PM GMT

Updated: September 05, 2024 12:35 PM GMT

The head of the largest Protestant Church in South Korea has urged other Christian denominations to address the country's declining childbirth rates and offer spiritual and practical support to families.

“Offering financial help for those [families] in need is one way of practicing God’s will,” said Lee Young-hoon, head of the Yoido Full Gospel Church, the Korea Times reported on Sept. 4.

“This could help create an environment where healthy families can appropriately nurture children,” Lee added.

Lee made his remarks in a statement on the Aug. 29 round table discussion on the nation’s demographic crisis.

According to preliminary data from Statistics Korea in February, South Korea's fertility rate—the number of children a woman is expected to have in her lifetime—dropped to 0.72 in 2023 from 0.78 in 2022.

This is far below the 2.1 percent needed to maintain the current population of 51 million, which experts estimate will nearly halve by 2100 at these rates.

South Korea, a member of the OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development) nations, has the lowest birth rate (0.72) and the highest average age (33.6) to give birth among member nations.

Lee said many young people perceive children as obstacles to professional ambitions or material success.

Lee emphasized that “faith leaders and churches should play a greater role” in helping such people find the joy only children can bring and restore Christian family values.

Lee further emphasized that a family is not merely a conglomeration of people who share the same space and bloodlines.

According to the Bible, it is the “foundational institution of society and a small Church of sorts, where Christian virtues are taught and shared,” Lee said.

Lee has been promoting the cause of having and raising children, earning him a Moran Medal in July this year. The medal is considered the second-highest Order of Civil Merit in South Korea.

As part of this effort, the Yoido Full Gospel Church has offered more than 5.4 billion won (around US$4 million) in childbirth subsidies to 5,016 congregants since 2012, the Korea Times reported 

The subsidies given to families have increased since the beginning of this year.

The report said families were given 2 million Korean won for the first child, 3 million for the second, 5 million for the third, and 10 million for the fourth and onward.