"South Korea’s birth rate is the lowest on the planet, at 0.7 per woman. The population officially began shrinking four years ago..."

"... and is projected to halve by 2100.... President Yoon Suk-yeol has described the population decline as a 'national emergency.' He and his wife Kim Keon-Hee are dog owners but do not have children. Experts say this reflects a broader societal shift, with pets filling emotional needs among a cohort of young people who are increasingly individualistic.... The shift in attitudes towards dogs in South Korea is perhaps most starkly illustrated by the fact that it only recently banned the consumption of dog meat.... Dog meat stew, known locally as boshintang, is eaten mainly by older Koreans in the summer.... The practice, often defended as cultural tradition, has faced growing opposition from... from younger Koreans who increasingly view dogs as companions rather than livestock...."

From "Raise children? No, South Koreans just want to pamper their pups/In the country with the lowest birth rate in the world, young people cite financial constraints and intense working conditions as reasons to choose pets instead" (London Times).