Korea Pays Couples to Have Babies, and Your High Schoolers Have Strong Opinions

Should the Government Pay People to Have Babies?

Vocabulary

• fertility rate — the average number of babies a woman has in her lifetime
• incentive — something offered to make people want to do a thing
• parental leave — paid time off work after having a baby
• population decline — when a country has fewer and fewer people over time

Fact: South Korea's fertility rate was about 0.72 in 2023 — the lowest ever recorded in a country of its size.

Discuss with a partner:

1. If your city offered you 10 million won to have a baby, would that change your decision? Why or why not?
2. What are the real reasons young people in Korea might not want children? List three.
3. Is it the government's job to encourage people to have kids? Or is that a private choice?
4. Which would help more — cash payments, or longer paid parental leave? Why?
5. Do you personally want children someday? Has anything in this lesson changed how you think about it?

Debate: Your team must argue FOR or AGAINST cash incentives, even if it's not your real opinion. Give at least two reasons.