Six in 10 workers perceive gender bias in promotions, citing men-dominated workplace culture. Gettyimagebank

Six in 10 Korean workers feel there are gender disparities in promotions and department assignments, with men-dominated workplace culture cited as the primary cause.

The issue is even more pronounced among women contract workers, with eight in 10 reporting gender-based workplace discrimination.

According to a survey released on March 2 by the labor rights civic group Gapjil119 and conducted by Global Research, 61.1 percent of 1,000 employees surveyed between Feb. 10 to 17 said gender discrimination exists in promotions and job placements.

Among women, 76 percent acknowledged such disparities, significantly higher than the 48.6 percent of men, reflecting a stark gender perception gap. The percentage was even higher among women contract workers, with 81.3 percent reporting discrimination.

The most commonly cited reason for workplace gender inequality was "men-dominated practices and organizational culture" (57.1 percent), followed by career interruptions due to pregnancy and childbirth (38 percent), the glass ceiling for women (18.5 percent) and low managerial trust in women employees (18.2 percent).

Gender equality across sectors low

When respondents rated gender equality across various sectors on a scale of 100, the National Assembly ranked the lowest at 46.8 points, followed by local governments (47.7), media (47.8), central government (48.1), corporate workplaces (51.1), courts (51.9) and schools (59.2).

In the workplace category, women contract workers rated gender equality at 42.5 points, significantly lower than the 57.5 points given by men on permanent employment contracts.

Gapjil119 interpreted this as evidence that gender discrimination is deeply tied to job security, wages, and overall working conditions.

Kang Eun-hee, head of Gapjil119's Gender Discrimination Committee, said, "Men-centered workplace culture and policies lead to promotion and assignment disparities at work, the burden of caregiving and housework at home, and a lack of women's perspectives in politics, administration and media."

She said that despite the Equal Employment Act banning gender discrimination in hiring and promotions for 36 years, workplace inequality persists. "The Ministry of Employment and Labor must take stronger action against legal violations," she said.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, a sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.