Female workers in South Korea have identified the gender wage gap as the most significant form of workplace discrimination. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, March 7 (Korea Bizwire) — Female workers in South Korea have identified the gender wage gap as the most significant form of workplace discrimination, according to a new survey released March 6.
The survey, conducted by the Gender Discrimination Special Committee of the Gabjil 119 civic organization and the Women’s Labor Rights Division of the Labor Attorney Association for Labor Rights, polled 164 female workers between February 13 and 28 about workplace gender discrimination and harassment.
According to the findings, 57.3% of respondents cited the gender wage gap as the worst form of workplace discrimination. Other major concerns included discrimination related to pregnancy, childbirth, and childcare (55.4%), glass ceiling barriers (54.8%), workplace sexual harassment and secondary victimization (52.4%), and hiring discrimination (48.7%).
In written responses, participants shared personal experiences of discrimination, including one worker who reported being paid similarly to male colleagues with lower positions and shorter tenure. Another noted that despite working in a female-dominated industry, management positions were predominantly held by men. One respondent described being forced to leave her job after facing ostracism from a male supervisor whose romantic advances she had rejected.
“We need to address structural gender discrimination through measures such as female promotion quotas, special labor inspections for workplaces with repeated sexual harassment cases, and strengthened blind hiring practices,” said Kang Eun-hee, an attorney and chairperson of the Gabjil 119 Gender Discrimination Special Committee.
The findings were announced at a press conference held in front of the Admiral Yi Sun-sin statue in Gwanghwamun, Seoul.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
