South Korea July births up 11.1% y/y, first sustained rebound in fertility

South Korea reported 24,275 births in July, an 11.1% year-on-year increase, marking a notable reversal in the world's lowest fertility rate. The uptick, if sustained, could ease demographic pressures but remains a single-month data point subject to volatility. This development matters for long-term growth, fiscal sustainability, and social policy.