Over the past few years, women in South Korea have been taking on more active roles in both society and the workplace. This ongoing progress has resulted in an increase in the labor force participation rate for women and a rise in the gender pay gap. Additionally, South Korean women are now
, which has traditionally been a significant reason for them to leave their jobs and end their careers. The MeToo movement in 2016 has also sparked more open discussions about women's rights and gender equality in South Korea.
The changing role of women in South Korea
In recent years, there has been a significant decline in the number of South Korean women starting families and giving birth. According to a survey conducted in 2023, one of the
leading reasons for avoiding marriage among South Korean women was simply not feeling the need to do it. This trend is well reflected in the
country's birth rate, which has plummeted to a record low of 0.78 births per woman in 2023, making it the lowest in the world. At the same time, more and more women in South Korea are joining the workforce. While the
employment rate of South Korean women is still lower than that of men, it has been steadily rising over the past decade.
Gender inequality
Despite recent advancements in
gender equality, South Korean women continue to face significant challenges. They are underrepresented in various fields, more likely to be paid less for their work, and often overlooked for promotions. The issue of the "glass ceiling" is still a topic of widespread discussion in society. Despite an increase in the
share of companies with female board members in recent years, the majority of companies still do not have women on their boards. Furthermore, only about 19 percent of
seats in the National Assembly are held by women.
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