high-speed trains; South Korea’s solution to the problem of population aging

South Korea, which has the world’s lowest fertility rate, is launching a high-speed train that will cut travel time between the capital Seoul and its suburbs. The officials of this country hope that the mentioned project will encourage more young people to buy a house and start a family outside the city.

According to Reuters, young South Koreans are usually unhappy with the small and expensive houses in Seoul (where half of the country’s population lives). The problem of housing in Seoul and the long commute outside the city are among the most important reasons for people not getting married.

The South Korean government has tried to increase the number of babies through subsidies, but it has not been very successful. Officials are now hoping for the eXpress high-speed train, which is scheduled to open by 2035. This underground train, which has six lines, connects Seoul to several remote areas in the countryside.

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yol today (Friday) inaugurated the first line of this train, which will reduce the commuting time from the capital to Dongtan city from 80 minutes (by bus) to 19 minutes. Shorter commutes enable people to spend more time with family, he said.

According to officials, the line is scheduled to open on Saturday and when the project is completed, it will become one of the fastest underground systems at a speed of 180 kilometers per hour.

It should be said, the fertility rate in South Korea is very low and it was reported as 0.65 in March last year. It is said that to maintain the population, this rate should be 2.1 babies per woman. The trend of population growth in South Korea is declining and experts have given several warnings about the aging of the population in this country.