ABSTRACT

South Korea has experienced rapid economic development and demographic transition in the last fi ve decades. It Gross National Product (GNP) per capita increased from US$79 in 1960 to US$14,162 in 2004. The total fertility rates dropped from 6.0 in 1960 to 1.16 in 2004. Furthermore, the proportion of those aged 65 years and above has increased from 2.5% in 1960 to 9% in 2005. A serious concern in Korean society is the prospect of a population decrease in the near future.