The average gap between men’s and women’s pay in large Korean companies
has widened by more than 50 per cent in five years. Reports from 50
blue-chip companies to the financial supervisory service showed male
workers’ monthly pay on average was 4.2million won ($4,000, £2,250) in
the first half of this year, compared with 2.6m won for women. The 1.6m
won difference was 53 per cent more than the 2000 figure of 1.06m won.
The biggest increase – of 2,733 per cent – was recorded at Hyundai
Engineering and Construction. KT showed a 420 per cent increase.
Analysts attribute the widening gap to women’s low chances of climbing
the corporate ladder and the concentration of women in factory assembly
lines. A Hyundai official said men’s pay had to be higher to compete
with the salaries paid to men going abroad to work.
Women’s rights groups are continuing to demand pay parity.
