South Korea's Gender Pay Gap Hits 50% by 50s
Women in South Korea earn 8% less than male peers at 27, but this gap balloons to 50% by their late 50s, driven by structural barriers and discrimination, according to government wage data
South Korea's gender pay gap grows significantly as women age, with women earning 8% less than their male peers at 27 and a staggering 50% less by their late 50s, according to government wage data. This disparity is the highest in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) since comparable records began in 1992.
The pay gap is evident early in women's careers, with women earning 22% less than men just one year after graduating. This initial disparity sets the stage for a lifetime of lower earnings, with women's wages peaking in their late 30s and then steadily declining.
Career interruptions, occupational segregation, and discrimination within organizations are key drivers of the gender pay gap. Women often face caregiving responsibilities that push them into lower-paid jobs when they try to return to work, limiting their career advancement opportunities. Despite higher education attainment, which has surpassed men's since the 1980s, women are underrepresented in management positions, holding only 18% of manager jobs in 2024.
The lack of women in senior roles is also evident in the public sector, where only five of 38 senior civil servants were women. This underrepresentation perpetuates the gender pay gap and reinforces structural barriers to women's careers.
## Why it matters The gender pay gap in South Korea has significant implications for women's economic security and independence. As women age, the consequences of lower pay, career breaks, and precarious jobs accumulate, affecting their ability to support themselves and their families. Addressing the root causes of the gender pay gap, including discrimination and caregiving responsibilities, is crucial to promoting equal opportunities and reducing the disparity in earnings between men and women.
The persistence of the gender pay gap in South Korea despite its status as a global technology and industrial powerhouse highlights the need for concerted efforts to address this issue. By understanding the structural barriers that drive the gender pay gap, policymakers and employers can work towards creating a more equitable labor market that values and rewards women's contributions equally to those of men.
