Over the course of its development, Korea has experienced significant demographic shifts. Death rates in the country have steadily declined over the past century, contributing to longer and healthier lives for Koreans than ever before. At the same time, birthrates have also decreased, remaining below replacement level for several decades. These dual trends of declining birth and death rates have led to a negative population growth trajectory, a phenomenon unprecedented in Korea’s history. It poses complex social and economic challenges such as lower economic growth, strained social insurance systems, and changes in family arrangements.

In response to these pressing issues, the KDI Journal of Economic Policy (KDI JEP) and the Korea Development Institute (KDI) have organized a forum to bring together leading domestic and international experts. This event will provide a platform for robust discussions on the underlying drivers and effects of Korea’s demographic trends. The forum will feature a diverse set of academic papers and policy-oriented presentations spanning various fields, including labor economics, public economics, development economics, and macroeconomics.

Through these discussions, we aim to foster a deeper understanding of the demographic challenges Korea faces and to explore forward-looking policy directions for addressing them. We warmly invite you to join us in this critical dialogue.