Author
H.D. PARK
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Not long ago, the popular YouTube channel Kurzgesagt posted a video titled “South Korea is Over.” That’s a bold statement — and if you haven’t watched it yet, it’s worth checking out. The video dives deep into South Korea’s demographic crisis, painting a pretty grim picture of where the country is headed if current trends continue.
As someone who lives in Korea, I found the video both fascinating and unsettling. But at the same time, I think there’s a lot more to say — especially from the perspective of a person living here. So in this post, I’d like to walk you through what the video gets right, what life here actually feels like in the middle of this crisis, and a local’s perspective on this matter.
What the Kurzgesagt Video Says – A Summary
In “South Korea is Over,” Kurzgesagt explains why South Korea is facing one of the most dramatic population declines in modern history — and what that could mean for its future. The video paints a dark picture, combining data with long-term projections. Here are the key takeaways:
- South Korea now has the lowest fertility rate in the world, at just 0.72 children per woman. In Seoul, that number is even lower, around 0.55. For a population to remain stable, a country needs a fertility rate of about 2.1, and South Korea is far below that. As a result, the country’s population is expected to shrink by roughly 30% by the year 2060, from around 52 million people down to about 36 million.
- If nothing changes, nearly half of the population will be over 65 by 2060, while children under the age of 5 may make up just 1% of the population. This creates a situation where fewer and fewer working-age people will be supporting more and more elderly citizens, putting pressure on healthcare, pensions, and the economy overall.
- Factors like rising housing costs, intense pressure around education, long working hours, and gender inequality are thought to be the causes for this issue. For many young Koreans, the idea of having kids simply doesn’t feel realistic.
- Depopulation could lead to economic collapse, cultural decline, and a failure to maintain the military as it is, as fewer young people contribute to national life. And it is not only Korea that is facing the demographic crisis – many countries around the world face the same challenge.
Yes, the Crisis Is Real — And We Know It
It’s interesting to think that just a few decades ago, the problem wasn’t a lack of children — it was too many. As the video points out, the global conversation back then was all about controlling birthrates, not boosting them. And Korea wasn’t an exception. In the 1970s and 80s, government campaigns actively promoted the slogan of “Have only two childs and raise them well.”
My own family reflects that shift. My dad grew up with six siblings. On the contrast there are just two of us in my generation. That kind of change within a single family, across just one generation, really shows how fast things have changed.
Now, of course, the government is trying to reverse course and encourage people to have more kids, but it’s not easy. Cultural attitudes, economic realities, and social norms have changed.
The demographic crisis in Korea is not news to Koreans. We’ve been hearing about it for years — from government officials, researchers, and media reports. It’s something we’ve been warned about in school, on the news, and through public campaigns. Birthrates have been falling for a long time, and people here know it is a major problem we have to address.
But here’s the thing: in daily life, especially in Seoul, it doesn’t feel like a crisis — yet. The city is still packed with people. The subways are crowded and the energy of the city hasn’t faded. If you just walked around Gangnam or Hongdae, you’d probably know what I’m talking about. And maybe this is why some people don’t take this problem seriously.
Still, there are signs. I’ve heard from teachers and parents that class sizes are shrinking, and some schools have closed or merged in less populated regions. It’s especially noticeable in rural areas, where the effects of population decline are hitting faster and harder.
The Real Tipping Point Might Be a Decade Away
Right now, a large portion of the Korean population — the baby boomer generation — is still active in the workforce. But give it another 10 years or so, and we’re going to see a huge wave of retirements. That’s when the real impact might hit.
When these workers leave the job market, the gap between the elderly and the younger generation will widen dramatically. There will be fewer people paying into the system, and more people depending on it. That means a heavier burden on younger Koreans, both financially and socially.
This potential future isn’t just speculation — it’s something economists and policy-makers are actively talking about. And it’s one of the reasons why Korea’s government has been trying hard to turn the tide.
South Korea is Over.. Is It Really?
The video paints a pretty bleak picture of Korea’s future, and honestly, I think most of what is says is true. But here’s where I’d like to add a bit of a local’s perspective.
Yes, the numbers are scary. But no, I don’t think Korea is “over.”
For one, Korea has a history of pulling off the impossible. After the Korean War in 1953, the country was in ruins. Just a few decades later, we became one of the world’s most developed economies. The so-called “Miracle of the Han River” was a real transformation fueled the people and national determination.
And I’d like to believe that this spirit hasn’t disappeared.
The Government Is Trying
Both the central and local governments are aware of the problem and have rolled out a variety of policies to try and boost birthrates. These include:
- Cash incentives for newborns
- Childcare subsidies
- Free public preschool
- Support for working parents, including parental leave policies
Some cities even offer housing support or bonuses for families with multiple children. And to be fair, there was a tiny bump in the birthrate in 2024 — the first increase in several years.
However, the truth is, throwing money at the problem won’t be enough unless the deeper structural issues are addressed. Problems like long working hours, high cost of education, job insecurity, skyrocketing housing prices all influence the young Korean people when they decide whether to have a child.
New Challenges, New Solutions
If we can’t solve the problem through birthrates alone, we’ll need to explore other avenues:
- Immigration: It’s still a sensitive topic here, but slowly, the idea of bringing in skilled foreign workers and integrating multicultural families is gaining traction.
- Technology and automation: Korea is already a leader in robotics, AI, and smart infrastructure. These tools might help make up for the labor shortages ahead.
- Cultural shifts: More people are open to non-traditional family models, flexible lifestyles, and remote work — changes that could eventually make raising a family more realistic for the next generation.
So, is South Korea over? I hope not — and I don’t think it has to be.
The demographic crisis is serious, and it’s going to require real, long-term changes. But as someone living here, I still believe in Korea’s potential to adapt and grow. We’ve done it before, and I think we can do it again.
