For nearly a decade, Korea has served as the poster child for the global demographic crisis, recording the lowest fertility rate on the planet as young adults postponed marriage and parenthood amid skyrocketing housing costs and intense career pressures. But inside the bustling capital of Korea, long-dormant maternity wards are beginning to tell an encouragingly different story. New figures released Monday by municipal authorities reveal that 4,227 babies were born in Seoul in May, representing a dramatic 17.7 percent jump compared to the same month last year. The surge marks the 26th consecutive month of year-over-year birth growth in the city — a sustained, two-year turnaround that demographers once considered highly improbable given the nationwide trend. The momentum is heavily fueled by a record-setting wave of weddings. Between January and May, marriages in Seoul jumped 11.1 percent compared to the prior year, outpacing all other 17 regions across Korea. In a country where childbirth remains overwhelmingly tied to traditional marriage, the rising number of newlyweds has created