South Korea's Gender Pay Gap Grows as Women Get Older
A new report shows how in South Korea, women on average earn less and have fewer employment opportunities throughout their lives.
South Korean women earn significantly less as they age, according to a recent Human Rights Watch (HRW) report. At 27, a woman earns 8% less than her male peers, but by her late 50s, her earnings drop by 50%. The gender pay gap remains the highest in the OECD since records began in 1992. Korean activist Min Hee Kim attributes this to the division of labor in the home and workplace.
Women face discrimination, caregiving responsibilities, and limited job opportunities, which accumulate over time. Women's university attainment has surpassed men's since the 1980s, but they still earn less after graduation. Wages peak in the late 30s and decline steadily afterward. Structural barriers, discrimination, and mandatory retirement ages contribute to the pay gap.
The report argues that equal pay, transparent wage structures, and treating care as a public responsibility are necessary to address the issue.
Written by urgent.news from Tempo.co English's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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