The ‘sad thing that happened in Korea in February’ turns out to be due to superstition?… The reason why so few were born and so many died

There is analysis that there was a ‘leap year effect’ to some extent behind the unusually high number of record highs and record lows recorded in statistics in February of this year. It is analyzed that the number of deaths increased due to the extra day, and the phenomenon of avoiding childbirth during leap months also played a role.

In fact, this February is a leap year with 29 days instead of 28. Leap years, which occur once every four years, occur because the Earth’s rotation period and orbital period do not line up perfectly. A leap year is a leap year in which an extra day is added to February every four years to correct for errors.

There are some special perceptions surrounding leap years. A typical example is that childbirth should be avoided as much as possible on February 29th of a leap year. Children born on February 29th tend to avoid childbirth because they can only celebrate their birthday once every four years.

According to the National Statistical Office on the 25th, the number of babies born in February this year was 19,362, falling below the 20,000 mark for the first time since 1981, when related statistics began to be compiled. The same goes for 2020, the last leap year. The number of births in February 2020 was 22,854, a sharp decline of 11.3% compared to the same month last year. The number of babies born in February 2016 decreased by 2.2% compared to the previous year. Although the influence of low birth rates is absolute, it is interpreted that the influence of leap years also exists.

There is also a perception that it is good to get married in February of a leap year. The number of marriages in February 2016 was 22,500, an increase of 7.7% from the same month of the previous year. In February 2020, it also increased by 5% compared to the previous year. However, the number of marriages in February of this year decreased by 5% compared to the same month a year ago, which is interpreted to mean that the influence of the trend of non-marriage and late marriage was greater than the influence of leap years. Analysis suggests that the fact that there were fewer days than usual for marriage registration due to the Lunar New Year holiday falling in February also had an impact.

Leap years also affect the number of deaths. This means that since there is one more day in February than in a normal year in a leap year, deaths are counted for one more day, which is a factor in increasing the number of deaths. The number of deaths in February 2016 was 24,600, a 6% increase from the same month last year. The number of deaths in February 2020 was 25,419, an increase of 10.9% compared to the same month last year. The number of deaths in February of this year was 29,977, an increase of 9.6% compared to the same period a year ago, the highest in February.

The steep aging population is believed to be the biggest factor in the increase in the number of deaths in February of leap years, but the National Statistical Office explains that leap years also have an impact.

An official from the National Statistical Office said, “Due to aging, the number of deaths among those aged 85 or older has increased,” adding, “There is also an effect of February being extended by one day due to leap years.” There is also a myth that ghosts are less active during leap years, so it is good to move or do house repairs.