Amid South Korea's record-low birth rates, two women were awarded civilian service medals for raising 13 children each. Eom Gye-suk, 60, received the Seongnyu Medal, and Lee Yeong-mi, 59, was honored with the Civil Merit Medal. Their recognition underscores the nation’s growing population concerns and the need for policies supporting larger families in a country with a 0.78 fertility rate.