Finance Minister Kim Dong-yeon says the government will actively work towards raising South Korea's infamously low birthrate.

Kim told reporters Thursday he's concerned about recent statistical data indicating new births in the first half of the year fell to a record low, noting the trend is likely to have long-term ramifications for economic growth.  

He said in order to maintain South Korea's current population, the total fertility rate, the average number of children a woman bears in her lifetime, should be at least at two-point-one to two-point-two.

Kim said the ministry will create a population department handling the issues of low birthrate and population aging.