By Lee Hyo-sik
Staff Reporter

Despite the government's efforts to promote childbirth, the number of newborns has decreased over the past year, with more young men and women delaying marriage in the face of increasing financial difficulties and a tightening job market.

According to the National Statistical Office (NSO) Monday, the number of babies born in March totaled 39,900 nationwide, down 3.4 percent from a year earlier, falling for the 13th consecutive month. Married couples have increasingly become reluctant to have kids due to bad economic conditions and rising childcare costs.

``In 2007, a record number of couples who tied the knot in 2006 had babies, believing the year 2007 or 'the golden pig year' in the lunar calendar, would bring luck to the newborns. But in 2008, the childbirth fever began subsiding and more couples decided not to give birth when the global credit crunch hit the nation hard last summer,'' an NSO official said.

The number of Koreans tying the knot here also declined 9 percent to 25,800 in March from the previous year, falling for the sixth consecutive month. The statistical office said the drop is largely attributed to the ongoing economic downturn that has made it more difficult for those in their late 20s and early 30s to find jobs and save money for marriage.

The number of divorces totaled 10,600 in March, down 5.9 percent from a year ago, due mainly to a mandatory system under which couples are required to take a one- to three-month cooling off period. The scheme was introduced as part of government efforts to reduce divorces.

The fragile economy also appears to have made disgruntled couples more reluctant to go their separate ways because of the costs associated with divorce.

Elsewhere, the number of deaths dropped 7.1 percent to 21,000 in March, while the number of people who relocated across districts stood at 705,000, down 10.3 percent from a year earlier.

The statistical office said population mobility has slowed over the past year amid the protracted economic downturn.

Gyeonggi Province saw 5,800 more people move into the area than out, recording the biggest net inflow. Seoul lost 41,000, with the majority heading to neighboring Gyeonggi and Incheon.

leehs@koreatimes.co.kr