Bridging the Gender Gap: South Korea’s Urgent Need for Equality

In a world where gender equality is increasingly recognized as not just a moral imperative, but also a driver of economic growth and societal well-being, the glaring gender gap in South Korea presents a formidable challenge. As the 21st century unfolds, the country stands at a crossroads — the path to continued progress is clouded by the lingering specter of gender inequality. This op-ed explores the depth of this issue, its impacts, and the urgent need for change.

Over the past three decades, South Korea has made significant strides in its journey towards prosperity. The country’s Human Development Index (HDI) value, which measures key components of human development such as economy, health, and education, has climbed from 0.737 in 1990 to an impressive 0.925 in 2021. This figure, towering above the world average of 0.732, paints a picture of a nation making strides in its journey to prosperity, a testament to the country’s commitment to its socio-economic development【9†source】.

However, a closer look at the gender-specific aspects of these developments unveils a more complicated narrative. South Korea’s Gender Development Index (GDI) — a measure that evaluates gender disparities in the HDI components of the economy, health, and education — has consistently lagged behind the rest of the world from 2009 through the last year for which data is available【9†source】.

In the economic arena, a yawning gap persists. On average, South Korean men earn almost twice as much as their female counterparts. The labor force participation rate for women significantly trails that of men, with a gap of 20 percentage points. This inequity not only reveals the entrenched gender disparities in South Korea’s workforce but also points to an economic inefficiency that hampers the country’s potential for growth【15†source】.

The political landscape provides another example of gender inequality. The representation of women in the National Assembly stands at less than 20 percent, a figure that pales in comparison to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) average of about one-third as of the end of 2021【10†source】. This disparity in political representation means women’s voices and perspectives are underrepresented in the policy-making processes that shape the nation’s future.

Yet, the problem extends beyond these tangible metrics. Deep-seated societal biases against women have been on…