Male-dominated corporate culture holding back female promotion
Getting women into leadership positions is still perceived as a challenge in South Korea amid a male-dominated corporate culture, according to reports.
A survey from Workplace Gapjil 119 found that 69.8% of respondents still believe it is difficult for women to be promoted into corporate executive roles.
The figure rises to 80.3% for female respondents and decreases to 60.3% for male participants, according to the poll, as reported by The Korea Bizwire.
The top reason behind this perception is the male-dominated corporate culture and discriminatory promotion practices that favour men, according to 36.5% of the respondents.
A further 31% said the burden of pregnancy and childcare is also holding back female candidates, while 22% cited the lingering bias against women's competence and leadership.
Women leaders in South Korea
The proportion of female executives in South Korea was at 7.3% in 2024, according to Women in Innovation's (WIN) Leaders Index, as reported by The Korea Times last year.
This represents a slight increase from seven per cent in 2023, continuing an upward trend from 6.3% in 2022, 5.5% in 2021, and 3.9% in 2019.
WIN attributed the growth to a recent government mandate that prohibits listed companies with total assets of at least KRW2 trillion from having an all-male or all-female board.
However, the association noted that firms are appointing women as outside directors instead of giving them executive positions to circumvent the mandate.
"Although the number of women in executive positions has increased after the revision of the Capital Markets Act, companies need to take follow-up measures to nurture candidates to become female executives," said WIN President Suh Ji-hee as quoted by The Korea Times.
