Number of S. Korea's newborns plunges in September

SEOUL, Nov. 25 (Yonhap) -- The number of babies born in South Korea fell sharply
in September from a year earlier despite the government's efforts to encourage
childbirth, a government report showed Tuesday.
According to the report by the National Statistical Office, the number of
newborns totaled 40,300 in September, down 4,500 or 10 percent from a year
earlier. In the first nine months of this year, 357,300 babies had been born,
compared with 372,800 a year before.
The decline is attributed to a relatively sharp increase in the number of births
in 2007, as many people believed that babies born during the "year of the golden
pig" will enjoy prosperity. The pig is the 12th and final animal in the Asian
zodiac and many here cherish the animal as a symbol of wealth and prosperity.
The number of marriages, however, jumped, the report showed.
Newly-wed people numbered 20,300 in September, up 10.3 percent from a year
earlier. Still in the first nine months of this year, the number of couples who
tied the knot fell to 238,400 from the previous year's 244,500.
Divorces fell sharply, according to the report. A total of 6,700 cases of divorce
were filed in September, down 2,000 or 23 percent from the same period of 2007.
In the months to September, 87,400 couples had filed for divorce, compared with
92,500 a year ago.
kokobj@yna.co.kr
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