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As the number of preschoolers from multicultural families dwindles due to the low birthrate, calls grow for systemic support for youth, away from current multicultural policies that focus primarily on underage children.

Experts underscore the importance of bolstering bilingual education. Rather than specifically differentiating children with multicultural backgrounds, they advocate for a more inclusive approach that benefits multicultural children.

According to a new report from the Korean Education Statistics Service, released Sunday, which highlights the major trends and challenges in multicultural education through statistics, there were 12,526 multicultural births in 2022. This accounts for 5 percent of the 249,186 total births in Korea in the same year.

Multicultural births in the report refer to cases where at least one parent is foreign or a naturalized citizen.

Considering there were 22,908 multicultural births in 2012, the number has declined sharply by more than 10,000 births, or approximately 45.3 percent, over the past decade. During this period, the decline in multicultural births mirrored the overall decrease in domestic births.

The average age for marriage within multicultural families is rising, and fewer babies are being born to women under 30, according to the report.

Specifically, the proportion of multicultural couples marrying under 24 fell from 30.8 percent in 2012 to 17.4 percent in 2022. Conversely, marriages involving individuals over 30 increased from 44.4 percent to 58.6 percent over the same period.

Additionally, the percentage of multicultural babies born to mothers under 29 dropped significantly, from 61.8 percent in 2012 to 31.3 percent in 2022.

A notable demographic shift is expected within Korea's multicultural population, with a decrease in preschoolers and a gradual increase in middle and high school students, as well as adults in their early 20s.

As of 2022, 89.7 percent of all multicultural students are in elementary and middle school. Looking ahead, the proportion of middle and high school students, along with youth aged 19 to 24, is projected to rise.

Mo Young-min, vice chairman for research at the Korean Education Development Institute and author of the report, emphasized the necessity of policy-level attention and establishing a support system for youth with multicultural backgrounds, pointing out that current multicultural policies focus primarily on young children.

According to the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, it is expanding projects to provide fundamental education and career guidance, facilitating the smooth adaptation of children from multicultural families to school life.

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Meanwhile, experts stress the need to prioritize bilingual education in support measures for children from multicultural families. They advocate for an approach that respects and incorporates the culture and language of their parents' countries.

Chung Ick-joong, a professor of social welfare at Ewha Womans University, underscored the future benefits of government support for both Korean and parents' native languages.

"If a person from a multicultural background excels in both Korean and another language, such as Vietnamese, their advantages will be even more pronounced," Chung said.

He also stressed the importance of integrated youth policies over differentiating children from multicultural families.

"Rather than dividing them, it's crucial to support integrated youth policies and focus on information accessibility," he explained, warning that differentiation might foster hostility among multicultural youth toward policies.

"Parents from multicultural backgrounds may not be fluent in Korean, making them vulnerable to missing out on support programs. Ensuring their access to information is what the government should focus on."

Kim Yun-tae, a professor of public sociology at Korea University Sejong Campus, pointed out that civic and school education to shift perceptions of multicultural families is needed.

"In Korea, people acknowledge societal changes, saying we are heading toward multiculturalism. But in reality, there are few actual multicultural policies, as the approach leans toward assimilation," he said.

Kim also emphasized the importance of developing policies based on the real needs of multicultural parents.

"It is crucial to establish policies that truly address the needs of multicultural parents by thoroughly surveying their lives," he said.