South Korea's gender pay gap grows as women get older

South Korean women face a widening gender pay gap as they age, according to a Human Rights Watch (HRW) report. In their late 20s, women earn 8% less than men, but by their late 50s, they earn 50% less. The report, titled "Too Old and a Woman," interviewed 41 South Korean women aged 28 to 87 about their working lives. Women's access to certain jobs and career breaks contribute to the disparity, as caregiving responsibilities often push them into lower-paid jobs upon returning to work.

Despite women attaining higher education than men since the 1980s, their earnings fall behind men's one year after graduation. Menial jobs such as call centers, cleaning, and caregiving are typically assigned to women, resulting in lower wages. The government has also faced criticism for its mandatory retirement age and the "peak wage" system, which allows employers to cut older workers' pay in the years before retirement.

Women's pension benefits also lag behind men's, with women receiving 53% of men's National Old Age Pension on average. Experts argue that addressing age and gender discrimination requires a multi-faceted approach, including equal pay, transparent wage structures, and treating childcare as a public responsibility.