South Korea’s newly elected president, Lee Jae-myung, has walked into a challenging territory segregated by severe gender-based oppression. The nation is still this developed world’s worst performer on the gender pay gap, which has remained stuck around 30 percent. So does every voter looking for smart, real solutions. They need economic policies that are more stable and predictable, affordable childcare, and greater supports for working mothers to address the real, long-standing issues women have faced in the job market.
The societal implications for gender equality in South Korea are complex. Kids as young as eight are more often than ever regurgitating misogynistic slurs. They learn these damaging phrases from breeding grounds such as YouTube, Reddit, and other dark corners of the internet. This worrying trend highlights the need for immediate and systemic change. Hyunsook Jung, IWPR’s Director of Gender Equity and the Economy Invited Commenter, urges us to understand the urgency of the gender pay gap.
Women are leading the charge for equity in the workplace and outside of it. At the same time, Lee’s administration is facing mounting pressure to go beyond compelling rhetoric and make hard, detailed policy proposals that translate inspiration into tangible change.
The Depth of the Gender Pay Gap
South Korea’s gender pay gap is one of the many barriers to women’s success in the workforce and serves as a stark example of these challenges. With almost 30 percent of the male-female earning separation unexplained, even most experts can’t shunt the factors into black and white categories. Job instability, promotion discrimination, and gender-based job segregation play a role in this inequality. Ms. Young, a researcher on gender issues, noted, “The causes of the wage gap are complex — career interruptions, promotion discrimination, job instability, and gender-based job segregation.”
While we’ve made great strides in policy advocacy, our society’s beliefs about and attitudes toward women in the workplace have not kept up nor has workplace culture. Women are frequently put in the position to have to juggle work commitments while still being expected to fulfill traditional duties at home. Youngmi Kim highlights this issue: “When both parents work, it’s still the mother who prepares meals, cares for in-laws, and gets the first phone call from school. That’s the default.” This embedded bias creates an undue burden on working mothers.
The administration of his predecessor, Yoon Suk Yeol, moved in the opposite direction with highly contentious, widely unpopular measures seen by many as retrogressive. He promised to do away with the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family. Advocates raised the alarm, warning that this repeal would roll back years of progress in the fight against systemic discrimination.
Voter Sentiment and the Political Landscape
Lee Jae-myung’s election in South Korea has sparked optimism among many South Korean women. They view it as an opportunity to address and redress chronic gender imbalances. His candidacy was supported by an unusual exit poll majority—84 percent—of South Korean women voters. This enthusiasm was a far cry from the conservative counter-mobilization, which was deeply rooted in anti-feminist rhetoric. This political change indicates an increasing impatience among voters to focus on doing things with our transportation investments—rather than just talking about them.
Perhaps for the first time, many voters across the country demanded policies and actions that would bring about real, meaningful change in their daily lives. Concerns such as affordable childcare and flexible work hours quickly became prominent issues during the campaign. In this context, Lee faces a balancing act: he must address the concerns of women while navigating a political landscape where nearly 70 percent of men in their 20s perceive discrimination against men as serious.
“That argument continues to muddy the public debate and prevent real progress,” – Mr. Jeong
As Lee’s administration formulates its agenda, it will need to consider how to engage with both progressive voices advocating for women’s rights and those who feel marginalized in discussions about gender equality.
The Need for Concrete Solutions
The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family has pledged 100,000 won a month in support for single-parent families. The public is still dubious that these steps will make much of a difference. Col Youngmi Kim made the case that these measures too frequently seem like “optics, not substance,” when it comes to solving root societal problems.
The increasing popularity of incel culture in South Korea adds another dangerous layer to the issue. Local usage This term has developed a specific local flavor and is part of the national debate over the culture wars on gender roles. Ms. Baek described how misogyny has become politicized: “It wasn’t just misogyny anymore. It got politicised — anti-liberal, anti-feminist, and virulently misogynistic. She also expressed frustration at how many people don’t see online trolling and abuse as criminal activity, but instead as a form of entertainment.
“They don’t even see it as a crime — it’s just entertainment for them,” – Ms. Baek
In fact, just last year almost 800 people called seeking assistance from the national digital sex crime helpline. This represents an astounding 11 times increase compared to 2018. This significant increase underscores the immediate need for holistic approaches to address online harassment and misogyny.
As Lee Jae-myung’s government prepares to enter office, those stakeholders don’t want just symbolism. They want real action. They demand real commitments to address women’s issues. One of their three main demands is strong action plans to close the gender pay gap and improve working conditions.
