Related: Seven in Ten Workers Believe Corporate Korea Still Favors Men in Promotions
South Korea has some of the world’s most powerful global brands — but behind the corporate prestige, women continue to face formidable barriers to leadership. A new survey suggests that for most Korean workers, the idea of a woman climbing to the executive suite remains an exception, not the norm.
What the Survey Shows
According to a nationwide poll conducted by labor rights group Workplace Gapjil 119 and Global Research, nearly 70 percent of employees say it is “not easy” for women to become executives in Korean companies. The sentiment is even stronger among women (80.3 percent) than men (60.3 percent), exposing a deep gender divide in perceptions of opportunity.
Why Women Still Struggle
Respondents pointed to several structural obstacles:
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Male-dominated corporate culture and favoritism in promotions (36.5%)
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Career interruptions from pregnancy, childbirth, and childcare (31.2%)
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Biases about women’s competence and leadership (22.2%)
Taken together, these factors paint a picture of workplaces where gender equity remains more ideal than reality.
Measuring Discrimination
The group created a “Gender Discrimination Culture Index,” based on 20 indicators of bias in the workplace. The result — 67.4 out of 100, rated D — suggests that gender inequality is still systemic rather than isolated.
Labor lawyer Yeo Su-jin said such culture has “become institutionalized through official systems,” criticizing the government’s recent decision to dissolve the Women’s Employment Policy Division as a step backward.
Why It Matters
Despite decades of progress in education and workforce participation, South Korea still ranks near the bottom among OECD nations for female representation in corporate leadership. In a society where global competitiveness hinges increasingly on diversity and innovation, this imbalance is more than a moral issue — it’s an economic one.
Unless structural and cultural barriers are addressed, the country’s boardrooms may continue to reflect tradition more than talent.
At a glance:
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69.8% say it’s difficult for women to reach executive ranks
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80.3% of women, 60.3% of men agree
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Main obstacles: male bias, childcare burdens, prejudice against leadership
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Gender Discrimination Index: 67.4 / 100 (D grade)
Bottom line: In Korea’s corporate hierarchy, the glass ceiling isn’t cracked — it’s reinforced.
Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)
