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ECCK Hosts Roundtable on Demographic Challenges: Low Birth Rate Policies in East Asia
On August 11, the European Chamber of Commerce in Korea (ECCK) hosted a closed-door roundtable on the theme of “Low Birth Rate Policies in East Asia” at the Sheraton Grand Hotel Incheon. The event was held with the support of the Presidential Committee on Ageing Society and Population Policy.
This roundtable was organized as part of the ECCK’s Family Friendly Future Forum (FFFF) initiative and in alignment with the 2025 APEC Summit. The aim was to discuss policy responses to the low birth rate and demographic challenges in East Asian countries, and to strengthen cooperation between the public and private sectors. The FFFF, launched in November 2024, seeks to foster sustainable and inclusive solutions by engaging diverse stakeholders in dialogue on family-friendly policy frameworks amid Korea’s low birth rate and ageing population.
The event opened with opening remarks from Christoph Hamann, Co-Chair of the Family-Friendly Future Forum (FFFF) and General Manager of Merck Healthcare Korea, who underscored that this discussion marks a concrete starting point for strengthening public–private partnerships. In a subsequent video address, Vice Chair Hyung-hwan Joo of the Presidential Committee on Ageing Society and Population Policy emphasised that reversing the population decline caused by low birth rates and ageing requires both policy change and cultural transformation. He particularly highlighted the Government’s policy direction for restoring the birth rate and the need for public–private cooperation to achieve it.
The keynote address, titled “Demographic Crisis in East Asia – National Policy Responses and Public-Private Collaboration,” was delivered by Chiu-Chun Lin, Acting Director General of the Gender Equality Department under the Executive Yuan of Taiwan. She shared Taiwan’s key policy measures to address low birth rates and the outcomes achieved.
The panel discussion was moderated by Chair Professor Kyungseon Kim of Korea Polytechnic University (former Vice Minister of Gender Equality and Family) and included the following panels:
Jae-min Jung, Deputy Director, Division of Population Policy Coordination Office for Population and Social, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Republic of Korea
Prof. Jung-ryeol Lee, Chair of International Collaboration Committee, Korean Society for Reproductive Medicine
Myung-hee Kim, President, Korean Federation of Sub-Fertility Family
Yongrea Cho, PhD in Economics from Keio University & Former Secretary General, Korea-Japan Parliamentarian’s Union
BoonHuey Ee, Former Co-chair of European Chamber of Commerce in Taiwan (ECCT) Family Friendly Alliance & Vice President, Merck Healthcare
Bryan Luro, ECCK FFFF Co-chair & Country Manager, Adecco Korea
The panel focused on comparative policy approaches in Korea, Japan, and Taiwan, and discussed the achievements and challenges of domestic policies. Bryan Luro, Country Manager of Adecco Korea and Co-Chair of FFFF, introduced findings from a recent ECCK workplace survey on family-friendly systems. He noted that despite high rates of formal policy adoption—such as flexible working arrangements and parental leave—the actual usage rates remain relatively low. He emphasised the need for cultural change in corporate practices, as well as government incentives and clear policy guidelines to bridge this gap.
The discussion also referenced examples from Taiwan, where oocyte cryopreservation support programmes are being expanded in major cities such as Taipei, and from Japan, where since 2015 continuous family planning education — including pregnancy and childbirth — has been provided from adolescence, alongside a five-year pre-conception care plan. Building on these domestic and international cases, participants suggested that workplaces should adopt working conditions that support work–life balance and gender equality, and that infertility treatment should be approached as part of lifelong healthcare management.
Professor Kim, who chaired the discussion, concluded the session by stressing the need to enhance the continuity and effectiveness of government policies, and by outlining four key strategies for overcoming Korea’s demographic challenges through stronger public–private cooperation. She emphasised the importance of establishing a permanent governance structure that enables continuous dialogue and collaboration between the government and the private sector, while also fostering regional alignment with neighbouring East Asian countries. She further underscored the need to guarantee reproductive health and education by adopting a lifecycle-based approach to family planning. In addition, she called for enhanced institutional support and a shift in corporate culture to better enable work–life balance. Finally, she advocated for the development of a data-driven, tailored care system encompassing infertility treatment, childbirth, and parenting. She remarked that the grave crisis of national decline cannot be solved by government efforts alone. “Only with the creativity and execution of the private sector, and the participation of citizens, can we build sustainable solutions,” she said.
In his closing remarks, Stefan Ernst, ECCK President, stated, “Today’s discussion marked a meaningful step in our journey toward a sustainable future where work-life balance and intergenerational harmony can thrive. Through the Family Friendly Future Forum, we will continue to support companies in building inclusive and sustainable workplaces, and we hope these efforts will lead to practical responses to demographic change.”
The ECCK remains committed to supporting inclusive and worker-friendly corporate cultures as a sustainable response to demographic change through initiatives like the FFFF. In this spirit, ECCK also participated in the 2025 APEC Healthy Women, Healthy Economy Research Prize Dinner held later in the evening, further reaffirming its support for policies that enhance workforce inclusion and well-being.
ECCK Hosts Roundtable on Demographic Challenges: Low Birth Rate Policies in East Asia
On August 11, the European Chamber of Commerce in Korea (ECCK) hosted a closed-door roundtable on the theme of “Low Birth Rate Policies in East Asia” at the Sheraton Grand Hotel Incheon. The event was held with the support of the Presidential Committee on Ageing Society and Population Policy.
This roundtable was organized as part of the ECCK’s Family Friendly Future Forum (FFFF) initiative and in alignment with the 2025 APEC Summit. The aim was to discuss policy responses to the low birth rate and demographic challenges in East Asian countries, and to strengthen cooperation between the public and private sectors. The FFFF, launched in November 2024, seeks to foster sustainable and inclusive solutions by engaging diverse stakeholders in dialogue on family-friendly policy frameworks amid Korea’s low birth rate and ageing population.
The event opened with opening remarks from Christoph Hamann, Co-Chair of the Family-Friendly Future Forum (FFFF) and General Manager of Merck Healthcare Korea, who underscored that this discussion marks a concrete starting point for strengthening public–private partnerships. In a subsequent video address, Vice Chair Hyung-hwan Joo of the Presidential Committee on Ageing Society and Population Policy emphasised that reversing the population decline caused by low birth rates and ageing requires both policy change and cultural transformation. He particularly highlighted the Government’s policy direction for restoring the birth rate and the need for public–private cooperation to achieve it.
The keynote address, titled “Demographic Crisis in East Asia – National Policy Responses and Public-Private Collaboration,” was delivered by Chiu-Chun Lin, Acting Director General of the Gender Equality Department under the Executive Yuan of Taiwan. She shared Taiwan’s key policy measures to address low birth rates and the outcomes achieved.
The panel discussion was moderated by Chair Professor Kyungseon Kim of Korea Polytechnic University (former Vice Minister of Gender Equality and Family) and included the following panels:
The panel focused on comparative policy approaches in Korea, Japan, and Taiwan, and discussed the achievements and challenges of domestic policies. Bryan Luro, Country Manager of Adecco Korea and Co-Chair of FFFF, introduced findings from a recent ECCK workplace survey on family-friendly systems. He noted that despite high rates of formal policy adoption—such as flexible working arrangements and parental leave—the actual usage rates remain relatively low. He emphasised the need for cultural change in corporate practices, as well as government incentives and clear policy guidelines to bridge this gap.
The discussion also referenced examples from Taiwan, where oocyte cryopreservation support programmes are being expanded in major cities such as Taipei, and from Japan, where since 2015 continuous family planning education — including pregnancy and childbirth — has been provided from adolescence, alongside a five-year pre-conception care plan. Building on these domestic and international cases, participants suggested that workplaces should adopt working conditions that support work–life balance and gender equality, and that infertility treatment should be approached as part of lifelong healthcare management.
Professor Kim, who chaired the discussion, concluded the session by stressing the need to enhance the continuity and effectiveness of government policies, and by outlining four key strategies for overcoming Korea’s demographic challenges through stronger public–private cooperation. She emphasised the importance of establishing a permanent governance structure that enables continuous dialogue and collaboration between the government and the private sector, while also fostering regional alignment with neighbouring East Asian countries. She further underscored the need to guarantee reproductive health and education by adopting a lifecycle-based approach to family planning. In addition, she called for enhanced institutional support and a shift in corporate culture to better enable work–life balance. Finally, she advocated for the development of a data-driven, tailored care system encompassing infertility treatment, childbirth, and parenting. She remarked that the grave crisis of national decline cannot be solved by government efforts alone. “Only with the creativity and execution of the private sector, and the participation of citizens, can we build sustainable solutions,” she said.
In his closing remarks, Stefan Ernst, ECCK President, stated, “Today’s discussion marked a meaningful step in our journey toward a sustainable future where work-life balance and intergenerational harmony can thrive. Through the Family Friendly Future Forum, we will continue to support companies in building inclusive and sustainable workplaces, and we hope these efforts will lead to practical responses to demographic change.”
The ECCK remains committed to supporting inclusive and worker-friendly corporate cultures as a sustainable response to demographic change through initiatives like the FFFF. In this spirit, ECCK also participated in the 2025 APEC Healthy Women, Healthy Economy Research Prize Dinner held later in the evening, further reaffirming its support for policies that enhance workforce inclusion and well-being.