As different cultures around the world, the family life and social participation of Korean women has been changing in response to changes in the Korean society.
Birth and Death of Women
The preference in Korean society for a male child is one form of discrimination against women, and is reflected in the abnormally larger number of newborn male babies. In most countries, the normal sex ratio at birth (defined as the ratio of the number of male births to female births) is between 104 and 106. However, in Korea, the sex ratio at birth has remained quite high (see Figure 1). Although overall the sex ratio at birth has been decreasing over the past 15 years, the ratio still deviated from the norm in 2005 (107.7). In particular, in the lunar Year of the Horse (1990 and 2002) and the Year of the Tiger (1998), considered unlucky years for a female baby to be born, the sex ratio at birth increased noticeably. The sex ratio at birth is greater when the birth order is considered. In 2005, the sex ratio at birth of the first child was 104.8, 106.4 for the second child, 127.7 for the third, and 133.5 for the forth and subsequent children. The ratios for the first two children are within the normal range, but the ratios for the third and successive children were far beyond the normal range (see Figure 2), indicating that illegal medical treatments were taking place to ensure the birth of male children.
With regards to the sex ratio at birth for the first and third child, differences were recorded between cities as well as regions. Relatively low differences in the sex ratio at birth were recorded in Jeollanam-do (10％), Jeollabuk-do (10％), and Seoul (11％). In contrast, much greater differences were recorded in Daegu (55％), Ulsan (47％), and Gyeongsangnam-do (47％). Thus, we can conclude from these results that there still exists a strong preference for a son over a daughter in these latter three regions.
In addition to the preference for a son, the rapidly declining fertility rate is also causing significant social problems. The total fertility rate is the average number of children a woman can have over her full reproductive lifetime (from 15 to 49 years old). A total fertility rate below 2.0 indicates a decrease in population. This decrease will, in the long run, see the working population decrease, which in turn will place a burden on future generations. In 1970, the total fertility rate was 4.53, indicating a woman delivered, on average, more than 4 children. By 2005, this rate had dropped to just 1.08. This drop underlines the urgent need for measures to increase the total fertility rate (see Figure 3). The total fertility rates in large cities such as Busan (0.88), Seoul (0.92), and Daegu (0.99) were low. In contrast, relatively high fertility rates were recorded in the rural areas of Jeollanam-do (1.28) and Chungcheongnam-do (1.26).
In addition to major demographic characteristics such as a high sex ratio at birth and a low total fertility rate, Korea is also distinguished by a high sex ratio of death at a certain age. The sex ratio of death is defined as the ratio of the number of male deaths to female deaths. Age-specific mortality rates by sex are very high among the 5 to 9 year-old age group (149 in 2005). This rate has been increasing along with the increase in the average age, resulting in a rate of over 250 in the 40to 50 year-old age group; there were 5 male deaths for every 2 female deaths in this age group. Compared to the 1995 rate, there has been a reduction, but this relatively high rate is still considered to be cause for concern (see Figure 4).
