상상 초월 상상 - 소설인가 현실인가
703화. 출산혁명 대한민국
슬프다.
세상에 이런 상상 초월 상상 소설은 없다.
세상에 이런 상상 초월 현실은 엄연히 존재한다.
주인공은 국민과 나.
출산혁명은
상상 초월 상상으로 탄생해서
상상 초월 상상으로 추진하고
상상 초월 실현으로 완성된다.
저출산이 인류 상상 초월의 초유, 전인미답이라서다.
저출산이 인류 상상 초월의 최악이라서다.
소설 상상 한둘로는 턱도 없다.
AI도 이런 상상 초월 상상에 놀라더라.
실현 가능성 없어 보이는 상상 초월 상상을 끊임없이 실현해야 한다.
그리하여 대한민국 저출산을 해결한다.
그때야 나 웃을 수 있다.
출산혁명 책
ㅡ상상 초월 상상 (사례)
1.위파 창시
4. Fiction Becomes Reality
At 62, spring of 2023
Three close friends at a bar. Half-drunk, I drop a political comment for fun. We keep it civil, but tensions stir slightly. Always the same.
Why should politics break friendships—just because of being a leftist or a rightist?
Then suddenly—what about the Upist?
What if I looked down from above and beyond right and left?
“Guys, from today, I’m Wipa. The Upist.”
“What’s that?”
“Beyond leftist and rightist. I will look down from above them.”
“Does that even exist?”
“It does now. I just made it up. From now on, I’m neither leftist nor rightist. I’m upist.”
“…???”
It's much better. Calmer. More objective. A few more drinking nights like that, and I thought—Let's see. If I made the Upist party, as the party leader, why not do what neither leftist nor rightist could? Only one.
October. The media explodes. YouTube, too. South Korea’s total fertility rate: 0.72. The worst in the world. But why? Dating, marriage, childbirth—aren’t they natural instincts? Alright. Let the Upist party fix this. That’s how I was interested in low birthrate first.
It all started as fiction—through the eyes of a president. But reality hit hard. A total fertility rate 0.7? Is 1.0 normal? One generation later, population drops by 30%. We're in a big crisis! But then I found out the replacement-level fertility is 2.1. What? I looked it up! It was true. Still, I couldn’t believe it. I checked again. And again. But it was real. One generation, and we lose two-thirds. From 51 million to 17 million. Then I discovered something even more terrifying: it's continuous. Irreversible. to 6 million, to 2 million…
That day, my peaceful old life ended. And a completely new one began.
Since then, I’ve been throwing myself into solving this.
And reality turns into fiction again—and then back into reality.
The two shall continue to intertwine until The Birth Revolution is complete.
2.디어 일론 머스크
Dear Elon Musk,
The Exclusive Invitation to The Birth Revolution
As a South Korean, I sincerely congratulate and deeply appreciate your recent long-term partnership with Samsung, reportedly worth $16.5 billion. This deal, centered around advanced AI6 chip production for your next-generation devices, marks a major milestone in South Korea-Tesla technical collaboration.
I deeply share your concern for humanity and South Korea’s low birthrate crisis, because you’ve told the truth. Even in your interview with Fox News, you repeated: “In almost every country, the birth rate is extremely low. If this does not change, civilization will disappear. Korea’s birth rate is one-third of the replacement rate. In three generations, Korea will be just 3 to 4 percent of its current population. Nothing seems to be turning that around. Humanity is dying.”
No! Never give up! One last chance remains.
While this crisis keeps you up at night, I staked my life on it two years ago.
It's The Birth Revolution.
I have unlocked the only viable solution to South Korea’s low birthrate crisis. When the cause is precisely determined and the solution is certain, success is inevitable.
It is a world-first, uniquely structured for success. I have turned an absolute crisis into an absolute opportunity through a lifetime of creativity, reverse thinking, and paradigm shifts. Like you, I have lived a life of challenges and game-changing moments—but in the humanities, not in science.
Let me show you two key reasons why this revolution cannot fail.
1. $500,000 for Two Babies—Free, for Generations.
It’s Columbus’ Egg, not madness.
The South Korean government already has the required budget.
If we use it now, it will continue to be available. If we don’t, it will disappear forever.
This is not a one-time act—it’s a generational commitment.
It will continue every year, for every generation to come.
Fearing $500,000 is what’s truly self-destructive.
I applied IPS to solve this crisis.
IPS is essentially your First Principles Thinking—transformed into a national strategy and a revolution.
(The details in Part 1 The Birth Revolution— Columbus’ Egg.)
2. What Must Succeed.
Today, everything is perfectly aligned for The Birth Revolution. Either all live happily, or all perish miserably. There is no third option. When people know all live happily, no one is foolish enough to choose extinction. Absolute opportunity stems from absolute crisis.
(The details in Part 2 The Success of The Birth Revolution.)
ㅡㅡㅡ
Collective National Madness Syndrome (CNMS)
However, South Korea is severely caught in its horrific trap.
This is not just social dysfunction. It is a cultural and psychological emergency. And as with any madness, those inside it do not realize it—until it’s too late.
That is why a shock is necessary. Quiet reforms won’t work.
(The details in Part 5 South Korea’s Low Birthrate Crisis–Total Ignorance.)
You're the only one who can deliver the powerful shock this nation is in dire need of.
(The details in Part 7 Musk and I Save Humanity.)
The global population collapse threatens not only nations but also your future ventures—without people, there is no market. I know you are deeply aware of this, especially in South Korea, where the total fertility rate has plunged to just 0.7—barely one-third of the replacement-level fertility. At this rate, economic collapse and political upheaval are inevitable.
In Europe, birthrate-driven immigration is sharply increasing political and social unrest. Europe could encounter risks—civil wars, a new crusade, World War III, and the collapse of liberal democracy.
Revolutions spread.
The Birth Revolution in South Korea will become a model for the world. I will lead it here. You will lead it globally.
Your only commitment is one thing: ignite the revolution.
It will spread on its own.
After long and deliberate reflection, I've chosen you as a comrade in this revolution. Your influence can provide the critical momentum both of us desperately need. As the unparalleled global icon of innovation, I trust you will grasp the scale and urgency of this mission. It is profoundly right, good, and sacred.
Why The Birth Revolution Matters to You.
1. You will prevent global population collapse, securing the future markets essential to your businesses.
2. You will be immortalized in history as a savior of humanity.
3. You will evolve from an innovator to a revolutionary.
ㅡㅡㅡ
The Birth Revolution is my destiny. At a stroke, through The Birth Revolution, South Korea’s annual births will rise from 240,000 (a total fertility rate of 0.7) to 700,000 (replacement-level fertility of 2.1)—for generations to come. The Korean people have survived for 5,000 years, and this revolution will ensure our legacy continues.
Together, we can bring happiness to humanity through The Birth Revolution.
That’s why I devoted five months to translating this book into English, specifically for you.
Just as you are the only one in the world who can save humanity, so am I.
Destiny calls us to unite for this mission.
Let’s create a new world together for humanity's survival and happiness.
Sincerely,
No Si-Kyun
from South Korea
A Revolutionary
August 25, 2025
3.노벨 평화상 수상
https://brunch.co.kr/@sknohs/2798
ㅡ상상 초월 현실 (사례)
1.한민족 멸종
3. Total Fertility Rate 0.7
With each generation, the population drops by two-thirds, leaving only one-third behind.
By far the world’s No.1 in low birthrate—
breaking its own world record.
● Population Trend
With this total fertility rate,
66% of the population disappears each generation.
34% remains.
Even worse, it is continuous and irreversible.
Only 4% remains after three generations.
34%=0.7÷2.1 (replacement-level fertility)
66%=100%-34%
4%=0.34×0.34×0.34
Population Trend
Current: 51 million (100%)
One generation later: 17 million (34%)
Two generations later: 6 million (11%)
Three generations later: 2 million (4%)...
The total population decline will be delayed by decades.
But the outcome is inevitable with this total fertility rate.
It’s simple math.
To return the previous population, the total fertility rate must be 6.3.
Every woman must give birth to 6.3 children.
It is impossible.
● Seoul’s total fertility rate 0.5
The capital of South Korea
This too is a world No.1—by a crushing margin.
With this total fertility rate,
76% of the population disappears.
24% remains.
It is continuous and irreversible.
Only 1% remains after three generations.
24%=0.5÷2.1 (replacement-level fertility)
76%=100%-24%
1%=0.24×0.24×0.24
Population Trend
Current: 10 million (100%)
One generation later: 2.4 million (24%)
Two generations later: 570,000 (5.7%)
Three generations later: 130,000 (1.3%)
The total population decline will be delayed by decades.
But the outcome is inevitable with this total fertility rate.
It’s simple math.
2.저출산의 역습
4. The Counter-Attack of Low Birthrate
It has already begun nationwide in 2024. It lasts forever.
● The Preparatory Phase of the Counter-Attack
1. 1983–Korea’s first low birthrate
The total fertility rate first dropped below 2.1, the level needed to maintain population.
After 20 years, 2002, South Korea made it to the World Cup semifinals for the first time.
That same year, the total fertility rate fell below 1.3. In demographics, this is called a Code Red.
But the people had no idea how serious it was.
After 16 years, 2018– The total fertility rate dropped to 0.9.
After 5 years, 2023–0.7. Dead last #1 in global low birthrate.
In trying to raise one child well, people have ended up having none.
2. 42 years of low birthrate
Since the early 2000s, the government stepped in.
They say they’ve spent $380B on birthrate policies.
Zero effect.
It turned out not to be true, just an excuse.
3. Warning
For over 40 years, the damage was limited.
Fewer students. Schools closed—no big deal.
A few colleges now shutting down, especially in rural areas, unable to fill seats.
Total population started shrinking in 2022, but barely—thanks to foreign labor.
Military reform downsized the army from 600K to 500K.
The majority of citizens felt no pain.
● The Launch of the Counter-Attack
Starting 2024 at last, the revenge of low birthrate began.
This time, it hits everyone.
A nationwide carpet bombing—not a one-time event.
It begins with economic collapse and continues until the nation falls, the people vanish.
The impact of low birthrate and population decline takes not just years, but decades to truly appear.
But once it starts, it never stops.
Now: tax revenue drops.
government spending drops.
consumer demand drops.
All sectors, all citizens—direct hit. Continuous. Irreversible.
● The Progress of the Counter-Attack (Summary)
■ By sector
1. Collapse of the national health insurance system
2. Collapse of the government budget
3. Collapse of domestic demand
4. Collapse across all sectors
■ By timeline
1. One day, 5 years from now, national panic must begin.
2. One day, 10 years from now, South Korea’s Doomsday must break out.
3. 20 years from now, one million deaths annually.
4. The fall of a nation
5. The extinction of a people
● The Progress of the Counter-Attack
■ By sector
1. Collapse of the national health insurance system
A study by Professor Kim Yoon-Hee’s team at Inha University Medical School, titled “Fiscal Forecast of the National Health Insurance (NHI) and Key Assumptions”
Annual NHI expenditure stands at $100 billion.
Deficit projections:
2024: $1 billion (1% deficit)
2030: $14 billion (14% deficit)
2036: $40 billion (40% deficit)
2042: $81 billion (81% deficit)
If current spending continues, cumulative deficit will hit $563 billion by 2042.
$28 billion in reserve funds will be completely drained by 2029.
The analysis assumes that the current health insurance premium rate of 7.09% will exceed the legal cap of 8.0%, rising by 2.09 percentage points each year.
It also assumes that the government will continue to contribute 14% of total premium revenues annually as a subsidy.
Even with tens of millions of citizens paying more than 10% of their income in premiums,
and the government injecting tens of $ billion every year, the system still accumulates astronomical deficits—a clear sign that South Korea’s national health insurance is fundamentally unsustainable.
Source: Korea Economic Daily, July 8, 2024
Cause: Low birthrate = fewer payers. Aging population = exploding medical costs
2. Collapse of the government budget
Annual government budget: $650 billion in 2024
Starting 2024, tax revenue and budget drops by $10 billion every year.
That’s 1.4% of the total budget.
Ten years later: $100 billion less in annual revenue.
Budget shrinks to $550 billion, then $450 billion, $350 billion, $250 billion...
Cause: The annual loss of 500,000 working-age people.
3. Collapse of domestic demand
Domestic demand has declined for 12 consecutive quarters—the longest drop in history.
Businesses and small shops survived COVID-19 through loans.
They expected a rebound.
Instead, what came was worse than the 1997 IMF crisis.
Mass bankruptcies are underway.
3 Highs: high interest rates, high exchange rates, high inflation.
2 Lows: low growth, economic stagnation.
Plus: Domestic demand drops 1.4% annually.
That’s 14% in 10 years.
Small businesses and corporations go bankrupt → banks follow suit.
Cause: The annual loss of 500,000 working-age people and 500,000 newborns.
4. Collapse across all sectors
□ Just examples: health insurance, the government budget, and domestic demand.
□ Everything collapses: politics, economy, society, culture—national defense, diplomacy...
Cause: The annual loss of 500,000 working-age people and 500,000 newborns.
■ By timeline
So what if it comes five years late? Destiny doesn’t care.
It’s bound to happen—no matter what.
1. One day, 5 years from now, national panic must begin.
The people will finally recognize the counter-attack of low birthrate—and realize that it is continuous, irreversible, and comes with neither plan nor hope.
They will discover that hell awaits.
Mass panic. Mass emigration.
A total halt in childbirth...
Without hope, one cannot endure.
2. One day, 10 years from now, South Korea’s Doomsday must break out.
The Great Depression never comes with a warning.
One day, out of nowhere—stock market crashes, real estate collapses.
Then the entire national system breaks down.
South Korea’s working-age population is shrinking by 500,000 every year.
That number is predictable.
But the economy?
Once it hits the tipping point, it crumbles overnight.
Ten years from now, economic collapse begins.
Ten times worse than the 1997 IMF crisis.
Relentless. Irreversible.
Will the IMF lend us dollars again?
They're already warning of South Korea's demographic extinction.
What if they don’t lend? Imports of food, energy—everything—come to a full stop.
We become Venezuela.
Grocery stores, supermarkets, convenience stores—empty.
No heating in winter. Shivering. Elevators stop.
We’ll be walking 30 floors.
Farming, fishing, livestock—all halt. Mass starvation.
Hospitals shut down. No medicine.
Elderly who rely on drugs to live?
Swept away.
Suicides, robberies, murders—rampant.
Mass exodus from the Korean Peninsula.
What happened to that country?
Sudden collapse. A rich oil nation, overnight, 95% of its people fall into absolute poverty. The wealthy and middle class digging through trash for food. The difference? They still have the world’s largest oil reserves. If needed, they can dig it up and bounce back.
Why are you fearmongering?
Me? It’s simple. No dollars means no imports of food and energy. That’s just fact.
But we’ve got foreign investors.
Are you stupid? Why would anyone risk their life-earned money on a failed country? There are plenty of safer places to invest.
We have over $400 billion in foreign reserves. We can hold out and find a way.
Not really. Pay off external debts and we’re left with little net assets. It’ll dry up fast.
Well, we’ll just have more babies.
Oh sure. Once the electricity’s gone, it’ll be pitch black after sunset. No condoms. No birth control. Just like Africa, we’ll have a population boom. If we’re lucky and committed, maybe we can repopulate. Total fertility rate 6.3. That’s nine times higher than today’s 0.7.
See? It’s doable.
Ha… Just like post-Korean War days. The baby boomers. Living on $2–$3 a day, covering food, clothing, shelter, and education. No transport costs. Forget cars—even buses and taxis didn’t exist.
This is serious. But I live in Seoul. The damage will hit last. We’ll find a way somehow.
The whole Korea Titanic is sinking. What good is first class or the captain’s suite?
Then I’ll emigrate.
As a refugee? A boat person? Which country would welcome you?
So what are we supposed to do?
Do we really have to go through that chaos and panic? Do we really want to crash back to the 1960s overnight? If we act now, we can still enjoy life and happiness. If we stabilize population, becoming a strong nation comes as a bonus. Now there are only two paths: we all live, or we all die.
3. 20 years from now, one million deaths annually.
Mass deaths among baby boomers will begin in earnest.
One million deaths per year for 16 years—16 million will be gone.
Following the annual loss of 500,000 working-age people, the entire population will begin to collapse.
Only 240,000 babies were born last year.
South Korea will lose 800,000 people every year—a nation in free fall.
That amounts to 1.5% of the nation’s entire population of 51 million.
4. The fall of a nation
Politics, economy, society, culture, education, national defense, diplomacy...
All sectors collapse.
5. The extinction of a people
Every generation, the population drops by two-thirds. That is each generation loses two-thirds of its people. 51 million → 17 million → 6 million → 2 million... South Koreans become a minority. Eventually absorbed by North Korea, China, or Japan.
North Korea's total fertility rate is 1.9—far better than South Korea’s. They will overtake in population. China 1.0 and Japan 1.2 have similar total fertility rates, but their populations are much larger—1.4 billion and 120 million respectively. Even with decline, they will remain vastly bigger than South Korea. What can a nation of 2 million do? Even during the Three Kingdoms era 1,400 years ago, Korea had more people than that.
Will a total fertility rate of 2.1 someday restore the population? Never. That only maintains the current level. If South Korea drops to 17 million, a 2.1 total fertility rate will keep it at 17 million. To return to 51 million? We'd need a total fertility rate of 6.3—six babies per woman. Impossible.
3.국민집단광기 신드롬
5. Collective National Madness Syndrome
This is not just social dysfunction.
It is a cultural and psychological emergency.
And as with any madness, those inside it do not realize it—until it’s too late.
I term this phenomenon
"The Collective National Madness Syndrome (CNMS)."
1. Prologue: Now I Understand
2. Collective Mental Illness—The Root of Ultra-Low Birthrate
3. Comparison with the Nazis
4. South Korea
5. Causes, Consequences, and the Solution
6. The Boundary Between Mental Wellness and Illness
● Prologue: Now I Understand
1. Background
I never imagined the low birthrate crisis could be this vicious and terrifying.
Why do people do nothing, even when they hear something that is logically and undeniably true? Why do they stay expressionless—or even scoff, or get angry—when told good news? I've wrestled with this question for nearly two years, and only now have I finally found the answer.
For the longest time, I couldn’t understand. But suddenly, everything made sense—only after 20 months and 601 writings of The Birth Revolution. It wasn’t until the final stages of the English translation that I connected the dots—calling upon psychopathology and social psychology to explain what I saw. I’ve long had an interest in illness and medicine, and now that background, my experiences, and even the books I've written, are paying off.
I’ve interviewed, surveyed, and tried to persuade hundreds of people. Many rejected me, but I persisted in starting conversations. I told them about the root causes, progression, consequences, and the solution to the low birthrate crisis. I told them counter-attack of the birthrate has already begun—it’s not about the future; it’s about now. One day, 10 years from now, we will face a shock ten times more devastating than the IMF crisis—the sinking of the Korea Titanic. It will be continuous and irreversible collapse: first the economy, then the nation, and finally the people. I’ve found the solution. I’ve explained it in detail to at least six persons. I thought they would be thrilled to hear it. But the reaction was always the same:
“So what?”
At first, I assumed it was because I’m not famous, or because the content was too vast. But even my own wife responded the same way. Once people logically understand that everything I say is true, they often mutter a single sentence:
“Then I’ll just die.”
No. Even when I tell them they can live happily, they still refuse. Everyone is in a state of resignation. They’re simply too exhausted from relentless competition.
Now I finally understand. This is collective national madness. It’s an illness—one with very deep roots. Some social psychologists have touched on this topic. But not to the extent of calling it madness. They've talked about it at the individual and societal levels. But for an entire nation, collectively mad? Including the government? Yes. The government’s indifference makes it part of the illness.
2. Importance
I originally identified ten ignorances of the low birthrate crisis. I now raise that to eleven—and this is the first and most fundamental one.
● Collective Mental Illness—The Root of Ultra-Low Birthrate
"A mental disorder is a syndrome characterized by a clinically significant disturbance..."
—DSM-5 Definition
1. A nation in denial
South Korea is suffering from a deep, collective mental illness.
This is not a metaphor. It meets the clinical definition:
It causes harm to the self (low birthrate, depression, suicide).
It causes harm to others (generational collapse, economic breakdown).
It reflects a dysfunction in cognition and emotion regulation (resignation, apathy, hyper-materialism).
If this were one person, we’d call it a severe mental illness.
But because it’s the whole nation, we call it culture or reality—and we normalize the symptoms.
2. Why it’s dangerous
A mentally ill person who does not recognize their illness is in a more severe state.
A society that does not acknowledge its own collapse is doomed to accelerate it.
We don’t treat what we don’t admit.
3. From philosophy to pathology
The roots are not economic alone.
They lie in the absence of purpose, lack of future vision, and loss of collective will to live.
It’s not just a policy issue.
It’s a philosophical and psychological breakdown—a crisis of meaning.
4. The first step to healing
Diagnosis is the beginning of cure.
We must name it, accept it, and treat it.
We must stop saying “this is just the way the world is.”
We must say, “This is not normal. This is illness.”
Only then can we begin The Birth Revolution.
● Comparison with the Nazis
The situation in South Korea today bears a striking resemblance to the collective madness seen in Nazi Germany—not in terms of violence or ideology, but in the structure of mass delusion.
1. Distorted values born from social pain
Post-WWI Germany faced humiliation, poverty, and fear, leading to a desperate embrace of false ideals like racial purity.
Similarly, South Korea’s hyper-competitive, family-eroding society has elevated material wealth to the top value—replacing meaning with money.
2. Widespread justification and blindness
The German people largely accepted or ignored moral collapse, thinking it necessary or inevitable.
South Koreans today rationalize collapsing birthrate and broken families as “personal choice” or “inevitable trends.”
3. Collective delusion as cultural norm
Nazi Germany was obsessed with racial superiority.
South Korea is fixated on financial security as the only path to happiness—even at the cost of human connection and reproduction.
4. Clarity comes only from the outside
Just as Germany’s madness became clear only after the war,
South Korea’s current values often seem shocking only to outsiders—
such as in Pew Research findings that show Korea as an outlier valuing money over family.
(The Pew Research survey appears in the following section—Ignorance 2: We have no idea what happiness truly is.)
This is not just social dysfunction. It is a cultural and psychological emergency.
And as with any madness, those inside it do not realize it—until it’s too late.
That is why a shock is necessary. Quiet reforms won’t work.
Hence, the need for The Birth Revolution.
● South Korea
Past: Collective national madness is initially led by the high-income class. The middle class follows. The low-income class is left behind—labeled as losers.
Present: Even the middle class is now labeled losers.
1. The most obvious example: Private education (Hagwon)
In the beginning (1980s): Only two elite hagwons existed, targeting math, English, and repeaters aiming for top universities in Seoul.
Now: Every subject, even arts and sports. Hagwons exist everywhere, starting from age 5—even as early as age 3.
Around 20% of children can’t afford hagwons, and they are branded as failures.
Private education exists to get into one of the top three universities, SKY, which accept just 2% of students. That means 98% are losers.
SKY is the gateway to large corporations, yet, only 1 out of 10 college graduates gets into them—9 are losers again.
Large corporations pay 1.9 times more than SMEs.
Now, not paying for private education means you’re a bad parent. Even with both parents working, it's still hard to cover private education costs.
Children are pushed into hagwons from early morning to late night—no free time, only study.
The essence of private education:
It’s unnecessary. It’s either learning in advance or repeating what’s already taught in school.
It’s a zero-sum game among citizens.
Evidence:
Both of my sons got into Korea’s absolute top universities—Seoul National University’s College of Medicine and KAIST—purely through public education during high school, without any private tutoring.
Private education is clearly a symptom of collective national madness.
I term this phenomenon "The Syndrome of Collective National Madness over Private Education"
2. Marriage
Only 5% of births are from unmarried mothers.
If you want to have a child, you must get married.
Cost of marriage: $40,000 per person.
To get married, a man must provide an apartment; a woman must prepare the new household goods. Exchange of expensive wedding gifts between families is mandatory.
Parents who can’t pay are losers.
Couples starting out in a rented apartment? Losers.
Even children from wealthy families delay marriage.
Even if they marry, they only have one or two babies.
This is collective national madness.
3. Jobs
Can’t get into a large corporation?
You’re a loser.
This is collective national madness.
● Causes, Consequences, and the Solution
History offers a powerful lesson.
1. The Hitler era
It was an emotional madness of rage—born of poverty, fear, and discrimination against Germans—that desperately clung to a false ideal: racial purity.
The result:
The far-right rose to power and carried out the Holocaust.
It all ended in World War II.
2. Today
It is a rational madness of greed—driven by capital inequality, fear of becoming a "loser," and endless competition—that desperately pursues a false ideal: money is everything.
The result:
Plummeting birthrate.
Then,
South Korea: No exit, only despair.
Europe: Far-right parties are on the rise, advocating anti-immigration and deportation—becoming ruling parties or the second-largest in their countries.
This is still unfolding.
It could encounter risks—civil wars, a new crusade, World War III, and the collapse of liberal democracy.
Cause: Absence of philosophy. What is Happiness?
Solution: The Birth Revolution
● The Boundary Between Mental Wellness and Illness
1. Based on my personal experience
Mental illness begins when one causes harm or danger to themselves or others.
This is a helpful rule of thumb.
Because the likelihood increases—
For your parents, as they age.
For yourself, especially as you grow older or become more isolated.
The problem is: unlike physical illnesses, people with mental disorders often don’t recognize they’re ill, even when diagnosed by a doctor.
Worse, they often refuse to see a psychiatrist at all.
But mental illness is just like any other disease.
If you suspect it, you must consult a doctor—and receive proper treatment.
Just like you would take medicine, get surgery, or be hospitalized for physical pain.
If isolation is necessary, compassion alone is not enough.
Unchecked, the situation can escalate and endanger lives.
However, if you recognize the signs and take control, it’s not a disorder.
In the United States, it has become common to seek psychiatric treatment or counseling even without having a diagnosed mental illness.
We need to correct the harmful stigma:
Mental illness ≠ madness ≠ weakness of character.
This is something I’ve memorized and always carry with me.
If I cause harm or danger to myself or others, I should receive treatment.
ㅡㅡㅡ
In my mother’s old age, I learned this standard while treating and studying her hoarding disorder and bipolar disorder. Her deep love and lifelong sense of duty toward her six children had grown so intense that it became an illness. As the head of a household where three generations—my mother, my wife, and our children—lived together, understanding this standard helped me immensely. It prevented me from letting emotions get in the way of recognizing her illness and seeking treatment. Having a clear criterion allowed me to make sound judgments—almost like a self-diagnosis tool.
This understanding helps me in my role as the eldest among three sons and three daughters. For example, my brother-in-law, in his seventies, fell into alcoholism and developed clear signs of liver damage. Yet, he refused medical treatment. I explained this standard to my nephew, who was at a loss, and guided him through the process. Within a few months, my brother-in-law's health recovered. It’s also been useful in calming my own marital disputes.
And as for myself, if I ever become a burden to my family or those around me, I plan to voluntarily seek treatment. After all, the brain is just another part of the body—if it breaks down, it needs to be repaired. There may be cases where I cannot help myself, but if it's beyond my ability, there's nothing I can do.
I’m not a professional, but I believe this is something everyone should know as common sense. Hospitals don’t usually explain these things, and even if the patient doesn’t understand, the caregiver must. After all, as the old saying goes, “A disease must be known to be healed.”
2. Medically
DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition)
DSM-5 Definition of a Mental Disorder:
“A mental disorder is a syndrome characterized by a clinically significant disturbance in an individual’s cognition, emotion regulation, or behavior that reflects a dysfunction in the psychological, biological, or developmental processes underlying mental functioning.”
“Mental disorders are usually associated with significant distress in social, occupational, or other important activities.”
Key Points Summarized:
A clinically significant disturbance in thoughts, emotions, or behavior.
It reflects an underlying dysfunction in mental processes (psychological, biological, or developmental).
Typically leads to significant distress or disability in personal, social, or occupational life.
ㅡ상상 초월 실현
1.혁명의 날
2. The Presidential Election–June 2030
The first and last opportunity for South Korea.
The fastest and most effective way to spread The Birth Revolution is through the presidency.
That’s why I must run—and win.
The 2035 election will come only after the Korea Titanic has already sunk—too late to change course.
The president serves a single, non-renewable 5-year term.
ㅡㅡㅡ
All of this is to awaken the nation to The Birth Revolution.
Once South Koreans clearly recognize the low birthrate crisis, they take action on their own.
History proves it.
3. The General Election–April 2032
I must secure two-thirds of the National Assembly seats to amend the Constitution—which is essential for the revolution.
Just like the 2035 presidential election, the 2036 general election will be held after the Korea Titanic has already sunk beneath the sea.
Members of the National Assembly serve 4-year terms.
4. What must Succeed
Just as history shows that chaos gives rise to heroes,
The Birth Revolution emerges in response to
the low birthrate crisis of our age.
● Cases of Success
In 2003, No Moo-Hyun, a little-known figure, ran for president under the banner of national unity between the country's eastern and western regions. People in his own region even called him a "fool" for it. But thanks to the internet, his sincerity spread nationwide at the speed of light. Even overnight before election day, he faced a major setback—but overcame overwhelming odds through a series of dramatic comebacks and was eventually elected president.
After his election, President No joined the newly formed Uri Party. In the 17th general election held on April 15, 2004, the Uri Party far exceeded early projections of 70 to 100 seats, winning a total of 152. It became the majority party in the National Assembly—the first time since the 12th general election in 1985 that such a majority had been achieved.
Such political upheavals are not rare even in world history.
The Birth Revolution is not a fantasy. Like the stories of
No Moo-Hyun or other global shifts, it is simply the next inevitable upheaval—timed with precision, armed with truth, and driven by desperate necessity.
● Elections Ride the Wind
1. Elections are decided by a single wind.
The Birth Revolution is no ordinary wind—it's a nuclear storm.
2. Look at Europe.
Due to backlash against immigration caused by the low birthrate crisis, far-right minority parties are taking power or becoming the second-largest parties.
In Korea, since nothing has been done about the birthrate crisis, it will explode all at once.
3. The people decide.
In times of peace, people split between two major parties.
In crisis, they gather under one party.
In life-and-death, existential crisis, they unite under a new party.
4. 2024 General Election
The main opposition bloc fell just short of the 200-seat threshold required to amend the Constitution—missing it by only 13 seats, or 6.5%.
This result came largely from widespread public disappointment in the president despite the absence of any serious misconduct.
Out of 300 total seats:
Main opposition bloc: 187 seats
Ruling party: 108 seats
Others: 5 seats
187 = Democratic Party (175) + Rebuilding Korea Party (12)
These two parties are, for all practical purposes, one and the same.
This book does not delve into detailed political scheduling.
Specifics will be addressed responsibly at the appropriate time.
They stand out for their uniqueness.
● Values and Fulfillment
If starting is half, deciding is half the start. Only a quarter remains.
1. 100% of success
From the perspective of theory, by completing the theory of The Birth Revolution, I have already succeeded—just like Marx with Das Kapital. In humanities revolutions, theory and execution are separate.
2. 75% of success
In terms of execution, I have already achieved 75% of The Birth Revolution. If starting is half, deciding is half the start. Only a quarter remains.
This is 51 million times better than doing nothing—
Because the lives, safety, and entire wealth of South Korea’s 51 million people are at stake. Each life matters.
In the pursuit of values, there is neither success nor failure—
only fulfillment..
2.혁명 후
PART 10. POST-REVOLUTION: HAPPINESS AND PEACE
One birth, extinction. Two births, a superpower.
1. South Korea
All live happily.
● Birthtopia
Indeed, it was true. Changing the way of thinking changed the world. Life turned around 180 degrees.
June 1, 2033.
“Waaah, waaah, waaah!”
The first cry of the first newborn. The moment Chool-Soo heard it, a chill shot through his body. He could feel life coursing through his veins—raw, visceral, electric. He had never felt anything like it. The joy of becoming a father thundered in his chest, while the immense responsibility for the baby settled heavy on his shoulders. It wasn’t joy or fear. It was awe.
"Apply for the $100,000, oppa."
These were San-Hee's first words to Chool-Soo while holding newborn Hyuk-Myung. Raising a child was expensive—in both money and time. But once they applied, and birth was confirmed, the money was wired instantly into their account. Cash. Free. Not a loan. On top of that, they received two years of paid parental leave. The new government had made a promise: “Have babies with peace of mind.” Without that money and leave, they couldn’t have even considered becoming parents. They had even postponed getting married. The government guaranteed $100,000 and two years of paid leave for every couple. Employers only had to grant the time-off—no cost to them. The couple could return to work anytime they wished. She called him “oppa,”—not because she was younger than him, but because they hadn’t held a wedding yet. The wedding didn’t matter. In Korean, oppa is a word a woman uses to warmly address an older man, especially someone close..
"Let’s have our second one soon."
San-Hee’s second sentence. The country was building brand-new 76㎡ apartments—each worth $300,000. Free. Not a loan. Anyone who had two babies received one. A true nest. A family of four needs space for four. And that wasn’t all. There was a second $100,000 cash grant and two years of paid parental leave. The government provided the funds to employers as interest-free loans. Employers paid to employees. Since it’s just early severance, there‘s no burden on the employer. Normally, one month’s salary per year is set aside and paid out at retirement. Now, it’s simply given in advance. The government recovers the money from the employer each year. Even if the employee changes jobs, it’s not a problem—the system is managed nationally.
ㅡㅡㅡ
The Birth Revolution.
They had heard of The Birth Revolution years ago. "For the first baby: $100,000 and two years of paid parental leave. For the second, a new 76㎡ apartment worth $300,000 plus additional $100,000 and two years of paid parental leave. free? no loan involved? That’s crazy!” A friend told them to look into it. “If the government invests now while there’s budget, the kids will grow up, start consuming, join the workforce, and pay taxes—and the budget will be replenished. If the government doesn’t do it now, the budget will disappear.” It made sense. It was The Birth Revolution. They bought a book and read it. And sure enough, it was all true.
That’s how Chool-Soo and San-Hee came to have two babies. If the kids showed academic aptitude, they'd send them to university. If not, they'd finish education with high school. The wage gap narrowed from 1.9 times to 1.5 times. There was no need to aim for conglomerates. Private education was no longer necessary to get into the top three SKY universities—Seoul National, Korea, and Yonsei (known collectively as SKY). Children simply chose professions suited to their talents. Even a job at a small company was enough to raise two kids. Jobs in the provinces increased significantly. All major corporations and all universities relocated to the countryside. Commutes became shorter, aiding childcare. Large corporations that were considering moving abroad due to serious workforce shortages benefited as well. No need to force early retirements with high pay. Kids joined companies at 17 after high school and basically worked for 43 years until 60. They could work an additional 10 years if they wanted, retiring at 70 instead. Universities, facing bankruptcy, welcomed this shift. Rural areas turned out to be better for both study and research. Selling off expensive land and buildings in the capital helped stabilize university finances. Their children would grow up, have two kids each, and receive $500,000. Parents and kids no longer needed to compete endlessly. They had two kids, lived peacefully, and were happy. That was to save the country and the people.
The baby boomer—Chool-Soo and San-Hee’s parents—were happy too. Getting $500,000 from the country for free! With two grandkids, that meant $1 million. When they visited the new homes the state had provided free, their faces lit up with joy. At 60, citizens even found new jobs—in the volunteer army. Salary: $1,500. Applications poured in, allowing the army to select only the most qualified. Having already served, these veteran warriors actually strengthened national defense. It also helped resolve senior poverty. With a more regular life, their health improved, easing pressure on national health insurance funds. Most importantly, young people were exempt from military service. The 18 months for raising children came automatically. Seniors defended the country; young adults had kids and raised them. Only special forces requiring peak fitness still recruited young people. The number of soldiers was originally 600,000; it had already dwindled to 500,000 and was continuing to dwindle. Without this system, 200,000–100,000 soldiers wouldn’t have been enough. The government would have had to double or triple the service period, and even draft women. That would have further exacerbated the declining birthrate. The economy would collapse, and they couldn’t even pay military salaries. The question now was: why didn’t we do this sooner?
Then San-Hee declared she wanted a third baby.
She already had home, and with the nation helping raise the kids, she wanted to raise one more. Her parents tried to stop her, saying, “Even having two is already a great achievement.” But nothing could match the joy and satisfaction of a baby being born and growing up. She wanted to give her kids a sibling.
ㅡㅡㅡ
The low birthrate crisis was sweeping the world. Everyone thought South Korea was doomed, yet it came back. And not just survived—became a G2 power, one of Asia’s and the world’s major nations. All it took was several generations. Neither growth nor distribution. All they had to do was have two babies and live happily. South Korea pulled off another miracle. A country that had always followed others now led the world.
Japan grew envious. With a total fertility rate of 1.2, its population drops by 43% every generation—only 57% remains. The current population is 124 million. The 1st generation: 70 million. The 2nd generation: 40 million. The 3rd generation: 22 million. In three generations, it would be a tiny nation with less than half of South Korea’s 51 million. Japan resisted copying South Korea, but eventually had no choice.
China chose robots. A middle-income country with limited funds, it urgently needed to cover its vanishing workforce. As the world’s factory, it went all-in on mass-producing robots. That addressed labor, but not population. Robots don’t consume. With a total fertility rate of 1.0, its population drops by 52% every generation—only 48% remains. The current population is 1.4 billion. The 1st generation: 670 million. The 2nd generation: 320 million. The 3rd generation: 150 million. Moreover, China isolated itself from the free world, choosing national decline.
Europe’s issue was immigration. To fill jobs, they brought in Middle Eastern refugees. A labor measure, not a population one. Serious side effects followed. Anti-immigrant sentiment helped the far-right win majorities. But still, with a total fertility rate of 1.3, Germany’s population drops by 38% every generation—only 62% remains. The current population is 83 million. The 1st generation: 51 million. The 2nd generation: 32 million. The 3rd generation: 20 million. The United Kingdom, with a total fertility rate of 1.4, follows a similar path. Its current population of 69 million will drop similarly. Within a few generations,
Christians will be outnumbered by Muslims in Europe.
ㅡㅡㅡ
The Korean people are unique on Earth. 51 million people of a single ethnicity—rare. In national crises, they unite. During the IMF crisis, they donated gold. When oil spilled in Taean, they cleaned it voluntarily. In 2002, they made it to the World Cup semi-finals. When presidents broke the law, they were impeached and jailed. History proves it. Whenever China, Mongolia, and Japan invaded, civilians and militias resisted to the end. Koreans prioritize the nation and justice over personal interest. And they’re famous for rapid innovation called ppalli ppalli in Korean. There’s no nation and no people like this in the world.
The total fertility rate of 0.7 was a greater crisis than all previous ones combined. This time, it was a national extinction threat. But instead of asking people to sacrifice their lives or wealth for the nation—no, they were begged to take $500,000, for free. No sacrifice; just please take the money. That was the way to save the nation and its people. The right time to argue over growth or distribution was after the babies were born first.
The second baby was truly a guarantee of happiness. The baby who was never supposed to exist came into the light of the universe. As a younger sibling, the baby brought happiness to their older brother—and to the whole family. Most incredibly, a new apartment worth $300,000 for a family of four was given to them for free. And another $100,000. At the very moment of birth, the second baby became a savior—for the economy, the nation, and even the people. The family witnessed two miracles. These miracles gave not only the family, but all of us, hope and a future. It was only natural that Chool-Soo and San-Hee would rush to have the second baby.
Then what should the second baby's name be?
The father's and mother's first syllables, Chool and San, form “ChoolSan,” meaning birth.
Their first baby's name, Hyuk-Myung, means revolution.
The Birth Revolution.
The answer is Haeng-Bok. It means happiness. Hahaha.
It was true. Today, birth was a revolution and The Birth Revolution was a Happiness Revolution.
● A G2 Power
South Korea will rise as a G2 power with a population of only 51 million.
It is already an advanced nation, a military power, and a weapons manufacturer.
North Korea has a fertility rate of 1.9. Upon reunification: +22 million people. Total: 73 million.
2. The World
The Birth Revolution will spread globally;
Like the Industrial Revolution and the Reformation.
● Two New Worlds
The low birthrate crisis is a global phenomenon.
The world will divide into two groups:
Nations that embrace The Birth Revolution will rise as powers.
But those that ignore it will decline and disappear.
Like the Industrial Revolution and the Reformation,
The Birth Revolution will reshape the world.
For the next 300 years, the U.S. will remain the unrivaled G1.
South Korea can rise to G2.
With The Birth Revolution, South Korea will leap from a perennial weak nation to a G2 power—second only to the United States.
It will surpass China, Russia, Japan, and Germany.
Population Now / In 150 Years / Total Fertility Rate
G1. USA—330 million / 330 million / 1.6 (The only superpower)
G2. South Korea—51 million / 51 million / 2.1 (The Birth Revolution)
China—1.4 billion / 34 million / 1.0
Russia—144 million / 25 million / 1.5
Japan—124 million / 8 million / 1.2
Germany—83 million / 7 million / 1.3
UK—69 million / 9 million / 1.4
France—69 million / 17 million / 1.6
The total population decline may be delayed by a few decades.
But with these total fertility rates, the outcome is inevitable.
It’s simple math.
● Peace and Democracy
1. Preventing war
The Birth Revolution buys us precious time—
a critical window to avert global conflict and war risks.
This is what the world truly hopes for.
2. Defending peace and liberal democracy
The Birth Revolution is more than a solution.
It is humanity’s final stronghold—
for peace, for liberal democracy, for survival.
