The Korea Times close
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
Entertainment
& Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
Sports
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
Video
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Fri, August 19, 2022 | 13:56
Korean Women Empowerment Still Low
Posted : 2009-11-18 18:55
Updated : 2009-11-18 18:55
Print Preview
Font Size Up
Font Size Down
By Bae Ji-sook
Staff Reporter

By the standards of 10 or 20 years ago, Korean women's status in society has improved remarkably but there is a long way to go to attain gender equality, the Ministry of Labor said in a report Wednesday.

Its research arm, the Korea Labor Institute, reported that the women empowerment index marked 57.4 out of 100 last year at workplaces. A score of 100 signifies men and women are on a totally equal footing.

An average female worker's salary was only about 70 percent that of men's. They also lagged behind in compensation for overtime work and other benefits.

However, the institute said the low score is related to the fact that men still dominate management and high-ranking positions.

Currently, female legislators account for 13.7 percent of the 299-member National Assembly. There are only two women serving as ministers among some 20 positions, with no female governors.

A mere 3.68 percent of high-ranking government officials were women in 2008, down from 6.23 percent in 2006. Only 0.28 percent of females workers are CEOs.

"Giving birth and rearing children narrows their window of opportunity," Hur Won-yong, a ministry official, said.

A woman identified by her family name, Cho, who is now on maternity leave from a bank, said society isn't ready to give women the same opportunities as men. "I was constantly told that management preferred males over females because men do not ask to go home on time to watch their kids. Males also fight harder for promotions and put more effort into their work, bosses said," she said.

According to the Switzerland-based World Economic Forum, Korea ranked 115th in gender equality among 134 countries. The forum gave Korea a score of 0.615 in the gender equality index, which is far lower than the scores of many other Asian nations.

Iceland scored 0.827, taking the world's top place. Among the leading groups were Finland, Norway, Sweden, South Africa and Lesotho. Korea was far behind the Philippines, which listed ninth, China (60th) and Japan (75th).

bjs@koreatimes.co.kr
 
LG
  • Suga of BTS remakes Galaxy's signature ringtone
  • Korean businesses pressure gov't to lower inheritance tax
  • Hit TV series leads to surge in visitors to southern region of Korea seeking glimpse of dolphins
  • Seoul to provide subsidies to households with babysitting grandparents
  • Government struggles to handle unused coronavirus vaccines
  • Minister rebuked for 'submissive' stance toward Japan
  • Yoon to reshuffle presidential office to regain public trust
  • Household income grows at record pace amid soaring inflation
  • Shinsegae to open integrated shopping mall in Gwangju
  • Authorities to ban access to unauthorized foreign crypto exchanges
  • Interactive News
  • With tough love,
  • 'Santa dogs' help rebuild burnt forests in Andong
  • 'Santa dogs' help rebuild burnt forests in Andong
  • A tale of natural wine
    • 'Mukbang' binge-eating shows give way to new trend of eating little 'Mukbang' binge-eating shows give way to new trend of eating little
    • [INTERVIEW] YouTubers bridge Korean, Muslim and Latin American cultures [INTERVIEW] YouTubers bridge Korean, Muslim and Latin American cultures
    • [INTERVIEW] Jung Woo shapes his character for Netflix's 'A Model Family' [INTERVIEW] Jung Woo shapes his character for Netflix's 'A Model Family'
    • NCT Jaehyun drops first solo single 'Forever Only' NCT Jaehyun drops first solo single 'Forever Only'
    • Artist Do Ho Suh invites children to his clay fairyland Artist Do Ho Suh invites children to his clay fairyland
    DARKROOM
    • Ice is melting, land is burning

      Ice is melting, land is burning

    • Tottenham 6-3 Team K League

      Tottenham 6-3 Team K League

    • Afghanistan earthquake killed more than 1,000

      Afghanistan earthquake killed more than 1,000

    • Divided America reacts to overturn of Roe vs. Wade

      Divided America reacts to overturn of Roe vs. Wade

    • Namaste: Yogis to celebrate International Yoga Day

      Namaste: Yogis to celebrate International Yoga Day

    The Korea Times
    CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
    Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
    Tel : 02-724-2114
    Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
    Date of registration : 2020.02.05
    Masthead : The Korea Times
    Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
    • About Us
    • Introduction
    • History
    • Location
    • Media Kit
    • Contact Us
    • Products & Service
    • Subscribe
    • E-paper
    • Mobile Service
    • RSS Service
    • Content Sales
    • Policy
    • Privacy Statement
    • Terms of Service
    • 고충처리인
    • Youth Protection Policy
    • Code of Ethics
    • Copyright Policy
    • Family Site
    • Hankook Ilbo
    • Dongwha Group