Glass ceiling thicker for top gov't, corporate posts in Korea

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Women remain underrepresented in top government, judicial and corporate positions in South Korea despite decades of progress in the public sector.

Women now constitute 49.2 percent of public officials, marking a significant increase from 41.8 percent in 2010. However, this nearly equal representation conceals the stark underrepresentation of women in leadership roles. Only 11.2 percent occupy high-ranking government positions, and 8.3 percent serve as court justices.

According to a report on public sector hiring data released by the Ministry of Personnel Management last year, female representation has increased in fields such as foreign service, prosecution and policing, but women still face significant barriers to reaching top-level positions.

The gender gap persists amid South Korea's notorious ranking in the OECD for having the highest gender wage gap, a dubious title it has held for 27 consecutive years. these gains have not translated into higher executive roles.

The government said it seeks to raise the proportion of women in senior public sector roles to 13.5 percent and in director-level positions to 30 percent by 2027.

The pattern of underrepresentation persists in the private sector.

Women make up 39.6 percent of the workforce in private companies, with a mere 24.1 percent in managerial roles. Furthermore, an analysis by the Korea ESG Institute found that only 6.7 percent of registered directors in listed companies are women, indicating a persistent glass ceiling at the private sector.

The medical and academic fields also display gender disparities.

Despite women representing 35.2 percent of medical students, they account for only 20.3 percent of medical faculty.

Leadership positions in national university hospitals and top-tier general hospitals in Seoul are exclusively held by men, underscoring a significant gender gap at the highest levels of medical academia and administration.

The judiciary is no exception. According to data provided by the Supreme Court at the request of Park Yong-jin, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, only 8.4 percent or 4 out of 48 high-ranking judges were women. This percentage increased from 7 percent in 2014 to 14.3 percent in 2021, only to decrease again.

South Korea's struggle with gender inequality is further reflected in the political sphere, where women remain significantly underrepresented. According to the National Election Commission, women constituted only 15.6 percent of candidates in the upcoming 22nd general election, a figure that has shown little improvement over time.

These statistics underscore a broader societal issue that transcends individual sectors, rooted in cultural and social attitudes towards gender roles. Despite legal and policy frameworks aimed at promoting gender equality, traditional perceptions continue to influence career paths and professional advancement opportunities for women.

The article from the Hankook Ilbo, a sister publication of The Korea Times, was translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.