Jeong-A Lee

Research field(s)

Demography; South Korea; East Asia; Fertility; Life course studies

Thesis title: Fertility intentions and behaviours in the context of changing ideals in South Korea and East Asia

While extensive literature explains South Korea's declining fertility through institutional changes in education, employment, family, and gender systems, no study has thoroughly examined how shifting attitudes and values impact fertility decision-making from a life course perspective. This thesis aims to fill this gap by exploring the mechanisms through which changing attitudes influence fertility intentions and behaviours in South Korea, focusing on individual life courses and cohort variations. By integrating these dynamics into the broader Second Demographic Transition framework, the study seeks to understand the recursive nature of values and fertility decisions among South Korean women. Finally, a comparative analysis of East Asian countries will examine how policies shape family-related values, fertility outcomes, and ideals, offering insights into the interaction between institutional contexts and individual decision-making across regions.