South Korea’s widening gender wage gap threatens growth in key industries



Analysis South Korea’s widening gender wage gap threatens growth in key industries New report reveals female wages falling faster than men’s, undermining industrial strategy and capital market reforms John LeeSeptember 10, 2025 SHARE COPY LINK FACEBOOK X LINKEDIN MASTODON An illustration of a corporate boardroom highlighting gender imbalance in employment and leadership \| Image: Korea Pro South Korea’s Ministry of Gender Equality and Family reported last week that the gender wage gap among listed companies widened to 30.7% in 2024, a development that underscores the risks to the country’s industrial competitiveness, financial credibility and policy coherence at a time when it is seeking to strengthen its position in global value chains. The findings show that the very sectors Seoul relies upon to drive export growth and technological leadership are also those with the deepest gender disparities in pay and participation, creating structural contradictions that threaten to undermine long-term productivity and investor confidence. DATA REVEALS DISPARITIES The © Korea Risk Group. All rights reserved. No part of this content may be reproduced, distributed, or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission from Korea Risk Group. LATEST ANALYSIS 01Samsung, SK Hynix rejection exposes South Korea’s chip-grid financing problem 02Trump’s Cheongung social media post tests Seoul’s refusal to arm to Ukraine 03Lee Jae Myung risks public trust as South Korea rewires its justice system 04South Korea turns to Central Asia as Iran war tests its energy resilience 05Houthi seizure of Mokha sharpens South Korea’s Hormuz deployment dilemma 06Japan’s stronger yen may cut Korea’s import bill while raising funding costs 07South Korea leans on Europe as Hormuz deployment choices grow narrower 08Hanwha’s Austal bid shows where South Korea’s MASGA plan may be heading

Analysis

South Korea’s widening gender wage gap threatens growth in key industries

New report reveals female wages falling faster than men’s, undermining industrial strategy and capital market reforms

John LeeSeptember 10, 2025

South Korea’s widening gender wage gap threatens growth in key industries

An illustration of a corporate boardroom highlighting gender imbalance in employment and leadership | Image: Korea Pro

South Korea’s Ministry of Gender Equality and Family reported last week that the gender wage gap among listed companies widened to 30.7% in 2024, a development that underscores the risks to the country’s industrial competitiveness, financial credibility and policy coherence at a time when it is seeking to strengthen its position in global value chains.

The findings show that the very sectors Seoul relies upon to drive export growth and technological leadership are also those with the deepest gender disparities in pay and participation, creating structural contradictions that threaten to undermine long-term productivity and investor confidence.

DATA REVEALS DISPARITIES

The

South Korea’s widening gender wage gap threatens growth in key industries

LATEST ANALYSIS

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John Lee