Women following the Chinese lunar calendar may hear their biological clocks ticking a whole lot louder: February 18 marks the beginning of what is widely believed to be the Year of the Golden Pig. What's so special about the Year of the Golden Pig, you ask?

Babies born in the "year of the golden pig" are believed to have good fortune and will lead a comfortable and wealthy life. [...]

People who believe in the year of the golden pig say the special year comes every 600 years. They came to this conclusion through calculations, using a combination of the Chinese zodiac and the yin and yang theory.

Chinese culture has had an enormous influence on Korea over the centuries. So this year promises to be a boon for both Chinese and Korean wedding planners and obstetricians as they handle an influx of potentially lucky infants. Regardless of whether it's just superstition or not, the impact on Korean society has been enormous. The birthrate is expected to rise 10 percent from the previous average, fueling a baby boom not seen since, well, the millennium birthing frenzy of 2000.