{"id":2203787,"date":"2024-02-12T14:59:10","date_gmt":"2024-02-12T05:59:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/?p=2203787"},"modified":"2024-07-01T15:09:48","modified_gmt":"2024-07-01T06:09:48","slug":"egg-freezing-surge-in-south-korea-signals-deeper-demographic-woes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2024\/02\/egg-freezing-surge-in-south-korea-signals-deeper-demographic-woes\/","title":{"rendered":"Egg-freezing surge in South Korea signals deeper demographic woes"},"content":{"rendered":"
In South Korea, the increasing trend among unmarried women to freeze their eggs serves as yet another signal that reflects deeper concerns about declining birth rates and the pressures of modern life.<\/p>\n
Lim Yoo-ra chose to freeze her eggs when she was 36. Without a romantic partner at the time, she saw egg freezing as a proactive measure to preserve her genetic lineage amid life\u2019s uncertainties.<\/p>\n
Although Lim married a year later and is now the mother of a child whom she conceived without the use of her frozen eggs, she still stands by her decision and continues to recommend the procedure to others.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt felt like it expanded my life choices as a woman, enhancing my confidence. I\u2019m convinced it was the right move,\u201d Lim said. She remains open to utilizing her frozen eggs for a second child in the future.<\/p>\n
Lim\u2019s choice highlights a growing movement among Korean women to secure their reproductive futures amid economic and societal uncertainties.<\/p>\n
This choice, supported by stories of celebrities and government subsidies, mirrors a broader societal transition toward delayed marriage and childbearing, highlighting the challenges and opportunities this represents for individuals and policymakers alike.<\/p>\n
In recent years, Cha Medical Center, a leading hospital specializing in fertility treatments, has witnessed a dramatic rise in egg-freezing procedures, from 599 in 2019 to 1131 in 2022. This nearly twofold increase is indicative of a wider trend that gained momentum around 2020, coinciding with the global pandemic.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe technology has been available for nearly two decades, but the exponential growth began around 2020, during the COVID-19 era,\u201d Han Se-yeol, the head of the Cha University Fertility Center (CUFC) Ilsan, told Korea Pro<\/em>, pointing to an annual caseload of approximately 1,500.<\/p>\n A baby inside a neonatal intensive care unit | Image:\u00a0<\/i>Vidal Balielo Jr<\/a><\/i>. via\u00a0<\/i>Pexels<\/a><\/i><\/p><\/div>\n NOT AN EASY PATH<\/strong><\/p>\n The egg-freezing procedure involves a series of complex steps. The process begins with hormone injections to stimulate over-ovulation, necessitating self-administration and frequent monitoring of follicle development.<\/p>\n Approximately two weeks later, eggs are harvested under anesthesia after which they are immediately frozen and stored at extremely cold temperatures.<\/p>\n This path, though increasingly popular among women aiming to preserve their reproductive options, is fraught with challenges. CUFC Ilsan reports that of the nine women who proceeded with thawing their frozen eggs to attempt to fertilize them in the past three years, only four were successful.<\/p>\n This statistic underscores the variable success rates of egg freezing, highlighting the importance of age as a critical factor.<\/p>\n \u201cOptimally, freezing eggs before the age of 35 is best, but in reality, many women make this decision later,\u201d said Han. \u201cGiven all factors, we recommend the age range of 34 to 37 for egg freezing.\u201d<\/p>\n The process is not without its physical tolls. Participants describe significant discomfort and emotional stress, with some experiencing severe side effects requiring medical intervention.<\/p>\n For instance, Lim told Korea Pro<\/em> that she experienced an intense stomach ache requiring hospitalization. Another woman, Kim Su-yeon, said that she went through emotional and physical distress during and after the procedure.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was just awful,\u201d Kim recalled. \u201cThe month following the treatment is a blur. I didn\u2019t feel like myself during that time.\u201d<\/p>\n Seoul’s egg-freezing aid posters portraying couples who seek to have children | Images: Seoul City Hall<\/p><\/div>\n SUBSIDIES AND CONTROVERSY<\/strong><\/p>\n The financial aspect of egg freezing presents a significant hurdle, with each cycle of retrieval and storage commanding fees between $3,000 to $4,000 (4 and 5.5 million won), alongside an annual storage cost of $150 to $230 (200,000 to 300,000 won).<\/p>\n In an effort to alleviate these costs, the Seoul Metropolitan Government launched a subsidy program in Sept. 2023 for 300 women aged 20 to 49, covering half the expense of egg-freezing treatments up to two million won per person.<\/p>\n This initiative, described by a Seoul government official as \u201cthe most realistic\u201d solution to address the nation\u2019s plummeting birth rates, underscores the urgency of the demographic crisis.<\/p>\n With South Korea\u2019s birth rate<\/a> dropping to a historic low of 0.78 in 2023 and the capital\u2019s rate even lower, the government\u2019s intervention aims to directly support individuals\u2019 reproductive plans.<\/p>\n