March 10, 2025
SEOUL – Outdated gender roles remain the biggest driver of South Korea’s persistent gender pay gap — the largest among OECD nations at 31.2 percent — according to a new survey by the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions’ Labor Institute, a research body under one of the country’s largest and most influential labor unions.
The survey, which polled 1,095 adults, found that 31.1 percent of respondents identified traditional gender expectations — where men are seen as breadwinners and women as caregivers — as the primary cause of wage disparities. Other major factors included weak government policies on gender equality (16.2 percent) and career breaks due to childcare and caregiving (14.6 percent).
One of the notable findings was how much the pay gap grows over time. Among workers in their 20s, the wage difference was relatively small at 3.3 percent. But by their 30s, it jumped to 13.2 percent, then 26.7 percent in their 40s, and peaked at 37.5 percent for workers aged 50 and above.
These numbers reflect a familiar pattern: men and women may start their careers on relatively equal footing, but women are far more likely to experience career interruptions due to marriage, childbirth or caregiving. Meanwhile, men’s careers tend to progress without such disruptions, widening the earnings gap over time.
The survey also highlighted how traditional gender norms shape career choices and household responsibilities. Nearly half of women surveyed (48.0 percent) said they had been encouraged to pursue specific jobs because of their gender, compared to just 16.7 percent of men.
At home, the imbalance was even greater: 58.4 percent of women said they were expected to take on caregiving and housework, compared to just 10.5 percent of men.
These expectations directly affect career stability. The survey found that 61.9 percent of women had experienced a career break, compared to 40.6 percent of men. The reasons also differed sharply: while men’s breaks were often due to job dissatisfaction or seeking better opportunities (both 22.4 percent), women’s were tied more to marriage, pregnancy or childbirth (24.3 percent).
These career interruptions often mean lower wages and fewer promotions, compounding over time and further widening the gender pay gap.
Wider socio-economic impacts
The consequences of wage inequality extend beyond individual careers. Survey respondents overwhelmingly pointed to its impact on South Korea’s already record-low birth rate, which also ranks the lowest in the OECD.
When asked about the potential effects of a continued pay disparity, the risk of an even lower birth rate received the highest concern score (4.6 out of 5). The fear is that if women continue to face job instability and economic insecurity, more will choose to opt out of marriage and childbirth altogether, exacerbating the country’s demographic crisis.
For solutions, the survey found strong support for equal pay for equal work (33.5 percent) and challenging traditional gender stereotypes while promoting gender equality awareness (25.2 percent).
However, there was a clear gender divide on government intervention. While 11.1 percent of women saw stronger government action as a priority, only 6.7 percent of men agreed — suggesting that those directly affected by wage disparities are far more likely to view systemic change as essential.
However, it’s worth noting that women made up nearly three-quarters of survey respondents at 74.7 percent compared to just 21.8 percent for men.
Jeong Kyeong-yoon, a research fellow at the KCTU Labor Institute, stressed that closing the gender pay gap is not just about fairness — it’s crucial for South Korea’s economic and demographic future.
“The strong link between wage inequality and South Korea’s declining birth rate shows that addressing the gender pay gap is an urgent national issue, not just a workplace problem,” Jeong said. “To make real progress, we need to dismantle outdated gender norms and build a labor market that offers true equality.”