Two months ago, a video titled “SOUTH KOREA IS OVER” was uploaded to a global YouTube channel with 23 million subscribers. The title, stated as a definitive claim rather than a question, alarmed many Koreans. Was it just clickbait - or a harsh truth? And why would such a large platform present it so provocatively?

The video opens with dramatic lightning over Seoul, declaring that South Korea is collapsing in every aspect. It quickly points to the main issue: the fertility rate. Korea’s national fertility rate has plummeted to 0.72 - the lowest in history. In Seoul, it’s just 0.55. The video argues that the country has already passed a demographic tipping point.

What does a fertility rate of 0.72 mean? In basic terms, if 50 out of 100 people are women, they would collectively give birth to only 36 children. The next generation would shrink to 36 people, and the one after that, just 13. This downward spiral suggests a future with aging populations, empty schools, and shrinking cities.

According to the video, by 2060, half of the population will be elderly. South Korea’s working-age population, currently 37 million, could fall to 17 million. The GDP may peak around 2040 and then stagnate. Even if the fertility rate tripled overnight, the damage accumulated over the past decades is considered irreversible.

So, is South Korea truly “over”? Not yet - but time is running out. While a full reversal may be impossible, the nation can still act to reduce long-term damage. Urgent reforms are needed to address societal pressures that discourage childbirth. If ignored, the video’s message may become not just shocking - but accurate.

심우찬 강남포스트 학생기자  webmaster@ignnews.kr

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