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KIM D.S. –SONG Y.J.
birth at high parity can be observed in Figure 1. The overall sex ratio at
birth decreased to 108.2 in 2004 (KNSO, 2006).
Figure 1 Trends in Sex Ratio at Birth by Parity, Korea, 1980-2004
Sex ratio
240
220
200
180
160
140
120
100
80
1980
1982
1984
1986
1988
1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
Year
1st Child 2nd Child 3rd Child 4th Child
Sources: Kim Doo-Sub (2004), KNSO (2006).
In the literature, high sex ratio at young ages in Asia has been attributed
to three factors: under-registration of female births, sexselective
abortion, and excess female infant mortality (Roy, 1994; Das
Gupta, 1999; Bélanger et al., 2003). Given that unregistered females
and female infanticide are not common in Korea, distorted sex ratio at
birth is mainly attributed to sex-selective abortion (Cho et al., 1994;
Park and Cho, 1995). Kim Doo-Sub (2004) conducted demographic
simulations and argued that sex-selective abortion raises sex ratio at
birth and, at the same time, plays a role in lowering the level of fertility
in Korea.
Sex ratios at birth vary from region to region in Korea. Distortions
in sex ratio at birth have been most serious in the south-eastern part
(hereafter, Youngnam) of the Korean peninsula. In 1994, sex ratios
reached 121.4 in Taegu city, and over 120 in two provinces in Youngnam.
In contrast, sex ratios appeared to be relatively low in the southwestern
part (hereafter, Honam) of the peninsula (Park and Cho, 1995;
Kim Doo-Sub, 2004).
Evidence indicates that compared to the rest of the country,
Taegu city and the two provinces in Youngnam do not present any
distinctive characteristics with regard to the level of fertility, family and
household structure, and practice of family planning. The only common
factors are that Youngnam has relatively fewer Protestant and
Catholic churches, and a long history of conservative cultural traditions
(Kim Doo-Sub, 2004).