The rapid decrease in the fertility rate of korea that has been achieved by the initiative governmental support is contrary to the case of European countries that was the consequence of social, economic and cultural changes. There fore, the
fertility
rate of Korea has a potential weakness that is likely to rise up due to unstable fertility behavior despite the fact that it fell to below replacement fertility rate.
In fact, the fertility rate is increasing recently as shown by various indicators. The fluctuation of fertility level is presumed to affect the population change greatly, As the mortality rate that is one of factors causing population change is
expected
to fall, the increase in birth rate consequent upon the rising fertility will lead to the increased in population growth rate. Considering the population control to be important for the improvement of life quality, the population policy focusing
on
fertility control should be counted.
In case of European countries, the population growth can be stabilized due to the high mortality despite the fact that the fertility grows a little higher as the population structures of these countries have already been aged. On the contrary, as
it is
only the control of fertility that can curb the population growth in Korea until it achieves the population structure in which the mortality can rise, the appropriateness of low fertility policy can be argued. Though every country including Korea
will
control population, taking the social development of its own country into account, the zero population growth can be anticipated by considering future population growth and evaluating its appropriateness. In Korea, the future population growth
has
already been anticipated, indicating that the ZPG policy, the goal of which is to achieve zero population growth by the year 2021, needs to be adopted.
Due to the concern that there might be some problems in labor force supply caused by the slow growth rate of economically active population consequent upon the changing population structure, some people argue that the fertility promoting policy
should
be re-adopted. This argument cannot be made even in developed countries where the population below the age of 15 accounts for 20% of the total population, The economic development depending on labor force cannot be expected in terms of
competitive
productibility and industrial structure of 21 century. Therefore, the industrial pattern of 20 century which was dependent upon sufficient labor force resulted from high fertility should be changed into 21 century's pattern that has competitive
power
through new technology innovation and facility expansion.
In order to make this change, The manpower that is equipped with the technology and skill and is able to meet the demand of labor force should the developed.
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