Gender Expectations Continue to Shape Careers and Family Life for Korean Youth (Image supported by Chat GPT)
SEOUL, Dec. 19 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korean young adults are feeling growing pressure and unfairness from traditional gender-role expectations at home and in the workplace, according to findings released Thursday by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family.
The results stem from “Soda Pop,” a series of five public talk concerts held from late October aimed at narrowing gender perception gaps among younger generations. During the sessions, young men and women shared experiences of discrimination and social expectations that they said continue to shape daily life despite changing attitudes toward gender equality.
Male participants described feeling constrained by assumptions that men should be family breadwinners, shoulder physically demanding work, or forgo parental leave. Some cited limits placed on male nursing students during obstetrics training and expressed resentment over what they see as unacknowledged costs of mandatory military service.
Others said they were uncomfortable with social narratives that frame men broadly as potential perpetrators. These views were met with counterarguments noting the structural disadvantages women face and the lack of infrastructure for alternatives such as female conscription.
The 5th SodaPop Concert (Photo courtesy of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family)
Female participants, meanwhile, emphasized that women remain the majority of victims of gender-based violence and said their sexual autonomy is frequently disregarded. They pointed to persistent barriers in the workplace, including the low share of women in senior positions, career interruptions linked to marriage and pregnancy, and discriminatory hiring practices.
Some recounted being steered into desk jobs despite technical roles, questioned about marriage plans during interviews, or pushed to leave regional labor markets dominated by manufacturing.
The ministry said the discussions highlighted how gender-based disadvantages are experienced differently but acutely by both men and women. Drawing on the findings, it plans to launch new initiatives next year to promote a more balanced gender culture among young people, including the creation of a “Youth Coexistence and Empathy Network” to foster public dialogue and collect policy proposals.
With a budget of 6.63 billion won (about $4.9 million), the ministry aims to translate the discussions into concrete policy tasks through expert consultations and interagency cooperation. Officials said the goal is to address gender perception gaps before they harden into deeper social divisions.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
