连增两年！韩国去年新生儿数量同比增长6.8%，创十五年来最大增幅

Group 1 - The core point of the article is that South Korea's newborn numbers are projected to increase in 2025 for the second consecutive year, with a total fertility rate returning to the 0.8 range, signaling a rare positive development for an economy long troubled by "ultra-low fertility" [1][2] - In 2025, the number of newborns is expected to reach 254,500, representing a year-on-year increase of 6.8%, which is the largest annual growth in 15 years [1][2] - The increase in newborns is attributed to changes in population structure and marriage patterns, including a rise in marriage registrations and an increase in the population of women of childbearing age [1][3] Group 2 - The government has invested significantly in policies to encourage childbirth, including cash subsidies, housing support, extended parental leave, and childcare assistance, although the causal relationship between these policies and the increase in birth rates remains unclear [4] - Structural constraints such as high housing costs, rising private education expenses, workplace stigma against parents, and stagnant youth employment continue to pose challenges to further increases in fertility rates [6] - The supply side is also under pressure, with pediatric clinics closing faster than new ones are opening, and some local governments lacking sufficient delivery facilities, reflecting systemic consequences of years of ultra-low birth rates [6]