South Korea grapples with record-low fertility rates and hanja script debate

South Korea faces a critical demographic crisis with fertility rates hitting historic lows, while simultaneous cultural debates rage over the role of hanja (Chinese characters) versus hangeul (Korean alphabet) in society. The government and public are confronting how these linguistic and demographic challenges shape national identity and economic future. Taiwan's similarly severe birth rate crisis provides a regional perspective on East Asia's population emergency, a trend with profound implications for workforce capacity and social security systems. These interconnected issues—demographic decline, cultural identity, and technological adaptation including AI integration—represent fundamental questions about how modern East Asian societies will sustain themselves.