The rate of breastfeeding is on a decrease. (Image: Kobiz Media)
SEOUL, Aug. 2 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korean mothers are engaging less in breastfeeding in public locations due to a decreasing number of newborn babies and increasing use of infant formula, experts say.
Statistics Korea reported that the number of newborn babies plunged from 438,400 in 2015 to 272,400 last year.
The rate of breastfeeding is also on a decrease. According to the Korean Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine, the breastfeeding rate in South Korea was over 95 percent in the 1960s before infant formula was introduced.
Since then, however, breastfeeding alternatives were sold without restriction until the 1990s, pulling the breastfeeding rate down to 83.3 percent in 1983 and 72.5 percent in 1994.
Sales of formula, however, skyrocketed from 40.5 billion won (US$35.2 million) in 1987 to 272.4 billion won in 1992.
In recent years, only 3 in 10 babies are being breastfed.
Some critics point out that breastfeeding at public locations has also dropped because of unpleasant onlookers.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
