According to figures from its government, in 2003 South Korea had the lowest total fertility rate in the world at 1.17, with a natural increase rate of 0.60, giving it the most rapidly aging society.

Other figures show that sex-selective termination is also an issue, with the ratio for third births of girls to boys standing at 1:1.412, despite government laws and regulations.

From 23rd to 26th January, Sumie Ishii, Executive Director, JOICFP, accompanied an IPPF mission to South Korea to assess the possible impact of the rapidly aging and reducing fertility society on Korea's official development assistance (ODA) contributions, and to see first-hand the reproductive health and rights (RH/R), and services situation in the country.

Meeting with representatives of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and the Korea International Cooperation Agency, the mission heard that although rapid aging and low fertility are great concerns domestically, Korea will continue to support ODA, and that the Korean people favored this. Ministry officials stated that Korea had been the beneficiary of overseas aid in the past, and that it would it still continue to repay that support, despite the economic challenges that an aging society engenders.

From 1991 to 2002, Korean ODA for the health sector increased five-fold. The IPPF mission requested that this trend continue, and that resources be further channeled into supporting RH/R and services.

The Planned Parenthood Federation of Korea (PPFK) told the IPPF mission that it was determined to assist IPPF as it could, especially since it had been the recipient of so much IPPF assistance in the past.

Korea has its own rich experience in family planning and RH/R, and it is expected that it will further expand its technical support in the field to developing countries.