KLRI : KOREA LEGISLATION RESEARCH INSTITUTE

The Korea Legislation Research Institute (KLRI), led by President Han Young-soo, and the National Assembly Library, led by Director Lee Myung-woo, jointly held a seminar on Thursday, July 25, at 1:30 PM in Conference Room 1 of the National Assembly Members’ Office Building in Seoul. The seminar, themed “Global Legislative Trends and Legal Challenges for Addressing Low Birth Rates,” marks its ninth edition this year and was organized to analyze the root causes of South Korea’s prolonged low birth rate from multiple perspectives and to explore legislative solutions for addressing the issue.

  

The seminar comprised a keynote address and two sessions.

   

The keynote address, titled “The Role of the State for Future Generations in the Era of Low Birth Rates,” was delivered by Professor Lee Cheol-hee, Head of the Population Cluster at Seoul National University's National Future Strategy Institute. Professor Lee evaluated South Korea’s low birth rate policies in three categories: cash support policies, childcare policies, and parental leave support policies. He emphasized the necessity for more comprehensive, long-term, and consistent measures to address the low birth rate problem effectively.

  

Session 1, chaired by Jang Ji-won, Director of the Legal Information Office at the National Assembly Library, focused on “Legislative Trends in Addressing Low Birth Rates in Key Countries.” Presentations and discussions included:

Professor Yoon Jong-seok from the Department of Chinese Culture at the University of Seoul discussing China’s policies

Dr. Bae Geon-yi, Research Fellow at KLRI, presenting on Germany’s legislative cases

Professor Hong Se-young from the Department of Social Welfare at Anyang University analyzing Sweden’s policies and laws

The session also featured discussions by Kang Myung-won, Legislative Document Researcher at the National Assembly Library, and Shin Young-mi, Senior Researcher at Seoul National University's Population Policy Research Center.

 

Session 2, moderated by Kim Hyeong-geon, Director of the International Cooperation Division at KLRI, addressed “Policy Outlooks and Legal Challenges in the Era of Low Birth Rates.” Presentations included:

Professor Shin Ok-joo from Jeonbuk National University School of Law on “Comparative Legal Studies on Policy and Legislative Improvements for Addressing Low Birth Rates”

Associate Professor Yoon Soo-jung from Kangwon National University School of Law, who critically reviewed South Korea’s low birth rate policies

Discussions followed, featuring Lee So-young, Research Fellow at the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs, and Professor Song Da-young from the Department of Social Welfare at Incheon National University.

 

KLRI President Han Young-soo remarked, “Through this seminar, we hope to examine the causes of low birth rates from diverse perspectives and derive legislative solutions to address South Korea’s low birth rate crisis by studying the experiences of European countries.”

 

Date: Thursday, July 25, 2024

Venue: Conference Room 1, National Assembly Members’ Office Building, Seoul