Solving the Low Fertility Rate with Technology?: Population Policy and Woman’s Right to Health

South Korea's total fertility rate (TFR) in 2009 was 1.15, the lowest in the world (as known so far. The South Korean government has invested a total of 19.7 trillion won (US$ 18 billion) of public funds from 2006 to 2010 to deal with the problem. This paper aims to analyze the “National Supporting Program for Infertility Couples” (hereinafter the “Program”), started in 2006 as one of the measures taken by the South Korean government to deal with low fertility in Korea. Specifically, this study is to clarify the following research questions:
First, did the “Program” start with a comprehensive consideration for women's health? Or rather, has the “Program” caused the concept of women's health to change or deteriorate?
Second, can the “Program” be an effective measure to deal with low fertility? And does this “Program” not cause internal contradictions with other low fertility policies?
Third, does the “Program” live up to its name and actually really help infertile couples?
This study attempts to answer these questions by analyzing the documents published by government regarding the "Program" and low fertility. In addition, it will analyze how national policy deals with women's health in conjunction with the amendments of the “Maternal and Child Health Act”, and previous analysis on the “Maternal and Child Health Service”.