Ask what Korea is talking about.

Korea is bracing for a historic low in elementary school enrollment next year, as the number of first graders is expected to drop below 300,000 for the first time, according to Yonhap and other outlets. The children entering school in 2027 were born in 2020, a year marked by the country's persistently low birth rate. Yonhap reports the projection underscores the growing impact of Korea's declining birthrate, with the Korea Times noting the figure will fall below 300,000 for the first time. Korean media frame this as a stark realization of the low birth rate crisis, with Yonhap's headline calling it a 'shock' that is becoming reality. The reports focus on the demographic trend itself, with no direct quotes from officials or parents in the supplied coverage.