Group 1 - The core viewpoint of the article highlights that South Korea's birth rate has shown a positive trend, with the number of live births increasing for the second consecutive year, reaching 254,457 in 2024, a 6.8% increase from the previous year [1][5] - The total fertility rate in 2025 is projected to rise to 0.80, marking the highest level in four years, after a decline from 1.24 in 2015 to 0.72 in 2023 [3][4] - The crude birth rate for last year was 5 per 1,000 population, reflecting a significant increase of 0.3 percentage points, the largest rise since 2010 [5] Group 2 - Factors contributing to the increase in birth rates include a rise in marriage registrations, an increase in the population of women in childbearing age, and changing perceptions about childbirth [5] - The birth rate among women aged 35 and older has notably increased, with the highest growth observed in women in their late 30s [5][6] - Despite a decrease in the overall population, with a natural decline of 108,931 people last year, the birth rate among older age groups has not declined, indicating a need for monitoring long-term trends [6]