1 in 5 teens thinks having children is optional

By Kim Rahn

One in five teenagers thinks that having a child is not a must, according to a recent survey Sunday.

The survey, conducted by the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs on 1,179 middle and high school students, showed that 21.1 percent of respondents didn’t think a couple must have a child.

Some 55 percent said a child was a must, while others said they didn’t know.

The idea that having children is optional was stronger among girls, with 28.7 percent saying so, compared to 13.7 percent of boys.

As to the reason for this, 29.8 percent said because they wanted to concentrate on career development, while 26.8 percent cited high childcare and education costs.

When asked whether it is a social responsibility to have and raise children, 51.7 percent said so. Most of the teenagers agreed that Korea’s low birthrate is a serious problem, but 23.5 percent said it was none of their business.

“The survey shows Korea’s birthrate problem could get worse when these teenagers grow up,” a researcher at the institute said.