The gender wage gap in South Korea significantly widens with age. At the age of 27, a woman in South Korea earns 8 percent less than her male counterparts, and this gap reaches 50 percent in the late 50s. This information is based on government wage data published in a report by a human rights organization.
Structural Discrimination and Its Consequences
South Korea is recognized as a global industrial and technological power, yet its gender wage gap has been recorded as the highest in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) since 1992. Minhee Kim, a women's rights activist, states: "The gender division of labor at home directly leads to the gender division of labor in the labor market." She emphasizes that the problem is not limited to the underpayment of women compared to men, but as women age, the job opportunities available to them decrease.
Read more: The credit of Varash increases on Wall Street while the credit of Basnat decreases
Challenges for Women in the Labor Market
The report "Too Old and Female" examines the working lives of 41 Korean women aged 28 to 87. According to this report, women face severe limitations in returning to the labor market after leaving work for marriage or childcare, often resorting to lower-paying jobs such as call centers and elder care.
Additionally, in 2024, women held only 18 percent of managerial positions, and the number of women working in high-level government roles was very low. According to data from the Ministry of Labor, women's wages peak in their late 30s and then gradually decline.
Kim also points to structural discrimination, a concept discussed in the report that refers to discrimination rooted in social practices and institutions. She explains that this type of discrimination may not even be recognized as a problem by its victims.
Women's rights activists are calling for reforms in pension laws and wage structures to address these issues. According to Kim, "This problem is not just about middle-aged women; it affects the entire system of work and women's pension rights."
Read more: Consumer confidence in the U.S. has fallen to its lowest level in four months · Abortion rights group expands its efforts in the midterm elections
