Baek Byung-yeul is a journalist at The Korea Times focused on cultural content, including films and cultural events in South Korea. You can contact him at baekby@koreatimes.co.kr to share your insights.
Yoido Full Gospel Church leads efforts to tackle Korea's low birthrate
Lee Young-hoon, senior pastor of Yoido Full Gospel Church, reads books for children in this undated photo. Courtesy of Yoido Full Gospel Church
By Baek Byung-yeul
Yoido Full Gospel Church is leading the way in tackling Korea’s ongoing demographic crisis by showing that the church’s faith-centered approach to fostering a family-friendly environment is actually working.
The church said Tuesday that households led by church members in their 20s to 40s boast an average of 1.61 children per household as of May. This figure is more than double the national total fertility rate of 0.72.
At a time when the country grapples with a record-low fertility rate, these statistics offer a glimpse of how community life can shape family structures.
Lee Young-hoon, senior pastor of the church, emphasized that addressing the low birthrate is not merely a matter for government policy, but a vital mission for the church.
"The issue of low birthrate is not simply an administrative challenge for the country, but a calling for the church to protect and practice the gospel of life," he said. "We will continue to work hand in hand with the government to spread a healthy community culture."
Over the past decade, Yoido Full Gospel Church has launched a variety of initiatives to support families and promote the value of life.
The church operates its own family happiness support center and a birth promotion committee, both of which provide counseling, prayer and practical parenting support to its members.
From 2021 to 2025, the church distributed approximately 2.79 billion won ($2 million) in childbirth incentives to help ease the financial burden on families. Special prayer meetings and spiritual support programs are regularly held for couples struggling with infertility, offering both emotional and spiritual care.
Expectant mothers and newborns also receive various support through assistance programs, reflecting the church’s commitment to nurturing life at every stage.
The church’s efforts have been further strengthened through collaboration with public institutions. On May 27, Yoido Full Gospel Church signed a memorandum of understanding with the Presidential Committee on Ageing Society and Population Policy, the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family. This partnership aims to expand family-friendly church culture models and provide practical information and support for childbirth and parenting within local communities.
Looking ahead, Yoido Full Gospel Church plans to work even more closely with the government and other organizations to share its successful family-focused approach with other segments of society.