Speculative Stuff
2023 - 2024 Student Works
* The intellectual property rights of each work are owned by each student.

Metaverse Birth: Economic Alternatives to Overcoming Low Birthrates





MIJI KIM



 South Korea is facing a severe low birth rate problem, prompting the government to implement policies to encourage childbirth. However, existing measures have proven insufficient to address the complex challenges associated with declining fertility rates. The consequences of a low birth rate include school closures, economic concerns, and strains on the social welfare system. To tackle this critical situation, a speculative design approach is adopted to imagine potential future scenarios where governments actively promote “metaverse births” as a solution. 

The topic of low birth rates has a profound impact on society, with countries experiencing fertility rates below the replacement level facing challenges in sustaining their social security systems. Demographic imbalances resulting from declining birth rates can undermine economic growth and stability. Governments worldwide have implemented various programs and incentives to reverse the downward trend, and South Korea requires

multifaceted approaches to address the low birth rate, including supporting youth independence, promoting marriage, tackling housing shortages, reducing societal barriers for women, implementing effective childbirth policies, and providing increased incentives for families. Addressing gender inequality and creating employment opportunities for women with childcare responsibilities are also crucial factors.

In a speculative scenario set in 2050, the government adopts a radical approach to address the low birth rate problem by promoting “metaverse births” through centralized brainwashing and education. This strategy raises ethical, legal, and social concerns that require investigation. A preliminary study involving interviews with young women reveals diverse opinions, with some interested in metaverse childbirth and others concerned about government-controlled brain manipulation, loss of human institutions and autonomy, and the feasibility and safety of the approach.

In this scenario, couples opting for metaverse childbirth receive government-controlled brain implants to define their children’s genetic characteristics and educational plans. The government ensures children receive nutrition and education through the implants, reducing parental responsibilities. A government pamphlet illustrates the scenario, depicting a contented family with a child in the metaverse, highlighting the benefits such as lower costs, reduced physical strain, and improved education. Ethical concerns

are addressed, emphasising that young individuals have the option to leave the metaverse and reenter the real world at 19.


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2023



Speculative Stuff



Speculative Stuff documents the design works of Yonsei University's Integrated Design undergraduate students, showcasing South Korea's first speculative design course. Led by Hyunjae Daniel Shin (Assistant Professor) and Eun Sun Park (Lecturer), our 16-week program blends theoretical lectures, interactive workshops, and practical exercises.

This course aims to foster the ability to understand and speculate about macro and micro changes in technology, culture, society, and the environment through everyday products and services in future contexts. By using future scenarios, comedy techniques, and preposterous worldbuilding, students develop a critical perspective on alternative futures.