生小孩可免除兵役
South Korea is experiencing a decline in the number of babies being born.
南韓的新生兒人數不斷下降。
The country’s total birth rate — the average number of children born for every 1,000 people in the population — fell to a record low of 0.78 last year, with less than 250,000 newborns.
該國去年的總出生率（每一千人當中的新生人口數）降至0.78的新低，新生兒人數不到25萬人。
fall to a record low跌至紀錄新低hit a record high創下紀錄新高
To help solve this problem, the government has suggested three plans that aim to increase the birth rate.
為幫助解決這個問題，南韓政府研擬了三項以提高出生率為目標的計畫。
increase(v.)(n.)提高、增加=boost
The first plan would provide a monthly payment of 1 million won (around NT$23,000) to each child until they turn 18.
第一項計畫是每月為每個孩子提供100萬韓元（約新台幣23,000元）的補助，直到他們年滿18歲為止。
provide sth. to(for) sb.提供某物給某人
By doing this, each child could receive over 200 million won (around NT$4.6 million) by the time they reach adulthood.
透過這個做法，每個孩子成年時可獲得超過2億韓元（約新台幣460萬元）的補助。
adulthood(n.)成年(期)childhood(n.)孩童時期、童年parenthood(n.)為人父母
The second plan would offer a waiver from military service for men who have three or more children before the age of 30.
第二項計畫是讓30歲以前育有三個以上孩子的男性免除兵役。
waiver(n.)免除、免支付協議visa waiver program免簽證計畫fee waiver免除費用
Finally, the government may introduce a parental leave system that would give both spouses a total of 480 days of leave, with men being required to take at least 90 of those days.
最後，政府計劃推出育嬰假制度，夫妻合計共有480天的育嬰假，男性則至少得請到90天。
introduce(v.)介紹;推出paternal leave育嬰假maternity leave產假paternity leave陪產假
The decreasing birth rate is a big problem for South Korea because it may affect the country’s future economic growth and population makeup.
出生率下降對韓國而言是個嚴重的問題，因為它可能會影響到該國未來的經濟成長與人口結構。
economic growth經濟成長population makeup人口結構
Therefore, the government’s suggested plans are aimed at solving this issue and encouraging more couples to have children.
政府的計畫旨在解決出生率問題，並且鼓勵生育。
be aimed at旨在做某事
Although it is still too early to know if any of these plans will be used, proposing them is an essential first step in trying to fix an important problem that may affect the country’s future.
儘管現在就想知道這些計畫是否會被實行還為時尚早，不過提出這些計畫確實是試圖解決國家未來的重要問題的首個必要措施。
essential(adj.)必要的、必不可少的