Seoul to fight abortion, increase skilled immigration amid shrinking birthrate

By Byun Duk-kun
SEOUL, Nov. 25 (Yonhap) -- The government will soon launch a nationwide
anti-abortion campaign and aggressively seek more foreigners to come and settle
down here as part of efforts to keep the country's population from shrinking, a
presidential council said Wednesday.
The move comes as the country again marked one of the lowest birthrates in the
world this year.
"The government decided to launch an 'Increase Koreans' project that will
actively invite more talented persons from overseas by widening doors to foreign
immigrants and by revising our immigration regulations to allow dual
citizenship," the Presidential Council for Future and Vision said in a press
release.
The council held its first meeting on measures to fight the low birthrate
Wednesday, also attended by President Lee Myung-bak.
The measures also include increasing social and financial support for families
with newborns or those with a multiple number of children.
Families with three or more children will be given special interest rates on
their mortgages while the government will provide support of 1.5 million won
(US$1,300) up to three times to each couple undergoing artificial insemination
procedures, according to the press release.
The school entrance age will also be lowered by one year, a move that will extend
employment years while also allowing parents to start working early.
bdk@yna.co.kr
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