KBS special documentary on responding to the low birth rate crisis, 'Shall we have a baby?', delves into the 'real reasons' why young people postpone marriage and childbirth, exploring what practical alternatives exist.

The first part focuses on the point that it is difficult to raise the birth rate solely through policies like gender equality and welfare for caregiving. Experts have pointed to 'the concentration in the metropolitan area' as the real cause of the low birth rate. Our country is an exceptional nation where over 50% of the population and GDP are concentrated in the metropolitan area, which is overwhelmingly high compared to other countries like France and Japan, where urban concentration is also high. In such an environment, young people become engrossed in survival due to fierce competition and high housing costs, and childbirth naturally falls to a lower priority.

The second part explores alternatives. What does the daily life of families who have moved away from the competitive metropolitan area to start a new life look like? In a less competitive environment, with ample housing and a warm community, childbirth could be seen not as a 'sacrifice' but as a 'choice'.

KBS special documentary on the low birth rate, 'Shall we have a baby?', examines the social structures and environments that obstruct decisions to have children, and explores the possibility of finding solutions to the low birth rate issue in regions outside the metropolitan-centered life.

◇ Part 1: What is blocking childbirth?

■ Musical actress and participant of Miss Trot 2, Jang Hyang-hee, appears! Her daily life as she challenges IVF at 45
Jang Hyang-hee (45), who lives in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, was once active as a musical actress and married her husband, Yoo Kyung-in (37), who is 8 years younger, last summer. Without even enjoying the sweetness of newlywed life, she soon found herself visiting an infertility clinic. Despite her fear of needles, she is currently undergoing her fifth round of IVF, driven by the desire to have a child. The friends she has met online, who she does not know by name or face, have provided support, becoming a safety net under the common denominator of infertility. In an era where fewer people choose to have children, where does her determination to have a child, even while visiting an infertility clinic, come from?

■ To have a baby vs. to postpone, a couple struggling under a debt of 300 million won
Kim Ryeong-seon (33) and Lee Jin-hyeong (42), who run a dessert shop online, have differing opinions on having a child. Due to a debt of 300 million won from a failed business and an unstable income, the husband Jin-hyeong says, "It’s not the right time yet," while the wife Ryeong-seon expresses, "I want to have a child before it’s too late." The couple has faced difficulties in the intense competition of civil service exams, starting a café, and more. How is the excessive competitive structure of Seoul and the metropolitan area impacting couples like them who are contemplating childbirth?

■ From aiming to save 1 billion won to becoming a devoted father
After a 9-year long relationship, Lee Ji-hyun (35) and Kim Jeong-seob (35) got married. Until last November, before having a child, they aimed to be a DINK (Dual Income, No Kids) couple. Living in the metropolitan area required both of them to work, and family support for raising children was far away. How did they come to the decision to have a child after aiming to save 1 billion won together for a stable future? The pivotal moment in their lives was 'acquiring their own home.' The 'home' they struggled to secure in the metropolitan area provided them with psychological stability, which in turn made them more open to having a child. When an economic foundation like a home is established, are they ready to have a child?

■ A couple earning over 10 million won a month at a large company, "I want to raise my child in an area with good schools"
Yoon Sun-hwa (34) and Lee Jae-ho (36) are a dual-income couple working at a large company in Seoul, with a monthly income exceeding 10 million won. The couple postponed their dream of home ownership due to skyrocketing housing prices after their wedding in 2022 and began studying real estate. After three years of investment study, they managed to acquire an apartment each in Seoul and the countryside, and they are now planning for children starting this year. The couple believes that it is crucial to establish an economic foundation first to raise their child in a good school district, a reality many young couples can relate to.

■ A multi-child family shaking up Changwon, Gyeongnam... Living a relaxed life away from the metropolitan area
Nam Soo-hyang (39) and Kim Young-jun (38) started their newlywed life in Gimpo but made a choice opposite to that of most young couples. Raising four children in Seoul and the metropolitan area comes with countless worries, from housing to living costs. Then came a job offer from the husband's hometown, Changwon. Seeing it as a good opportunity, the couple packed their bags without hesitation and moved to Changwon, where they secured a detached house for their four children to play in. As a result, their life satisfaction has actually increased. They share their honest story of finding happiness while raising four children, breaking free from the 'answers' that define a successful life as determined by others.

Through the realistic lives of young couples, KBS special documentary on responding to the low birth rate crisis, 'Shall we have a baby?', diagnoses the current state of the low birth rate phenomenon and explores alternatives. Part 1 airs on Friday, 23rd at 11 p.m., and Part 2 on June 1, 2025, at 9:40 p.m. on KBS 1TV.

[Photo] KBS

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