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Korea Herald
a day ago
- Korea Herald
Sexual harassment in Korean workplaces still underreported
7 in 10 victims do not report incidents, citing fear, mistrust or discomfort Despite growing awareness around workplace harassment, a majority of South Korean employees still choose to remain silent after experiencing sexual harassment at work, according to a government survey released Monday. The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family found that 75.2 percent of employees who experienced sexual harassment did not report it, marking an 8.5 percentage-point increase from the last survey in 2021. Among those who did report, nearly a quarter said no appropriate action was taken. The triennial survey, which polled over 19,000 employees from public institutions and private companies, revealed that 4.3 percent of workers experienced some form of sexual harassment over the past three years, slightly down from 4.8 percent in 2021. However, public institutions saw a rise in reported cases, from 7.4 percent to 11.1 percent, likely due to the return to in-person work after the pandemic. The most common types of harassment included sexual comments about physical appearance, lewd jokes or explicit talk, and being pressured to sit next to someone or pour drinks at work gatherings. While offices and workplace dinners remained the most common settings for harassment, the proportion of cases occurring online through group chats and social media rose to 7.8 percent, a 3.1 percentage-point increase. Half of the alleged perpetrators were supervisors or senior employees, and 80.4 percent were male. Among victims who chose not to report the incidents, reasons included believing the situation was not serious (52.7 percent), fear of awkwardness with the perpetrator (33.3 percent), and lack of trust in the organization to respond properly (27.4 percent). For those who did report the incidents, only 27.4 percent received counseling or were guided through procedures, while 17.5 percent saw a formal investigation initiated, and 16.2 percent reported separation or work reassignment of the offender. Secondary victimization, such as malicious rumors, was experienced by 12.3 percent of victims, down from 2021, but still a concern. Alarmingly, over 40 percent of bystanders took no action after witnessing harassment or retaliation. Despite the challenges, the survey also found improvements in workplace systems. About 80.8 percent of respondents said their workplace has sexual harassment prevention guidelines, up 12.1 percentage points. The proportion of employees who trust their company to handle cases fairly rose to 88.7 percent, a 15.5 percentage-point increase. Still, those responsible for managing harassment reports cited work overload and lack of expertise as major challenges, as many juggle multiple roles without dedicated training or resources. Jong Yong-soo, head of the women's rights promotion department at the ministry, said the government 'will actively support building workplace cultures where harassment prevention and response systems function effectively.'
Straits Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Multicultural acceptance rises among South Korean adults, drops for teens: Survey
Acceptance levels are typically higher among younger adults and students but decline with age. PHOTO: AFP SEOUL - South Korean adults' level of acceptance toward immigrants has increased slightly since 2021, but the reverse is true for middle and high school students, a government survey revealed on June 5. The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family released research results measuring Koreans' acceptance of multiculturalism through indicators such as cultural openness, prejudice toward immigrants and willingness to engage in intercultural relations. A total of 11,000 individuals participated in the research: 6,000 adults aged 19 to 74 and 5,000 middle and high school students. The research is conducted every three years as part of the government's efforts to develop effective policies. The 2025 results showed that the average multicultural acceptance score for adults rose to 53.38 out of 100, up from 52.27 in 2021. It is the first increase in nine years, signaling a shift toward more inclusive attitudes. In contrast, youth scores dipped, with middle school students averaging 71 points and high school students 68.52. Acceptance levels are typically higher among younger adults and students but decline with age. Among adults, those in their 20s showed the highest levels of acceptance (55.44), while those aged 60 and above recorded the lowest average score (51.14). The report also highlighted a strong link between direct contact with immigrants and positive attitudes. Respondents who had frequent interactions with people of different cultural backgrounds showed significantly higher acceptance scores. Additionally, the study found that participation in intercultural activities has a greater influence on improving acceptance than formal education. Youth who joined multicultural programs or volunteered with immigrant communities displayed consistently higher scores than those who only received classroom instruction. Public perception regarding the contribution of immigrants to society was largely positive, with over 78 per cent of adults agreeing that the increase in immigrants helps alleviate labor shortages. Over 65 per cent said they would have a positive impact on the general economy, while more than 55 per cent agreed that they would contribute to cultural diversity. The ministry plans to use these findings to improve national social integration policies, focusing on increasing practical opportunities for interaction between citizens and immigrant communities. A government official emphasised that fostering firsthand experiences, rather than passive education, will be key to building a more cohesive and inclusive society. The National Multicultural Acceptance Survey has been conducted every three years since 2012 and is used as foundational data for shaping multicultural and integration policy in South Korea. THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
NDTV
5 days ago
- Politics
- NDTV
South Korean President Takes Over A Country Deeply Split By Gender Politics
Liberal candidate Lee Jae-myung has won South Korea's snap presidential election with a clear lead. With all of the ballots counted, Lee won almost 50% of the vote, ahead of his conservative rival Kim Moon-soo on 41%. He takes over a country that is deeply divided along gender lines. Lee's campaign effectively channelled voter anger. He focused on resetting South Korea's politics after impeached former president Yoon Suk Yeol, who was from the same party as Kim, unleashed chaos by declaring martial law in December 2024. However, gender conflict has continued, subtly but powerfully, to shape voter behaviour, campaign strategies and the national debate about who is to blame for the lack of opportunities in South Korea for young men. The election took place three years after Yoon pipped Lee to the presidency by just a quarter of a million votes – the closest margin in the country's history. Yoon's victory was, as has been noted by researcher Kyungja Jung, 'the epitome of the utilisation of gender wars'. A key part of Yoon's strategy was fostering a sense among young Korean men that it was now them, rather than women, who were the victims of discrimination. He secured 59% of the vote from men in their 20s and 53% from men in their 30s. Just 34% of women in their 20s supported him. In the latest election, gender was everywhere and nowhere all at once. On the one hand, not a single candidate put forward a meaningful policy to address structural gender discrimination in the workplace, domestic violence or public sexual harassment. None even mentioned the gaping absence of women candidates, despite thousands of mostly young women having filled the streets demanding democracy after Yoon's martial law declaration. It was the first time in nearly 20 years that not a single woman stood among the contenders for the highest role in the country. Lee, positioning himself as the consensus candidate, attempted to neutralise gender as a campaign issue. When reporters asked him whether he would announce any women-related pledges, he said: 'Why do you keep dividing men and women? They are all Koreans.' His remark may sound inclusive. But it signals a strategy to declare the gender issue off-limits for the sake of the greater good, thus sidestepping the specific inequalities that continue to divide the country. It's a form of unity by erasure. Lee Jun-seok of the right-wing Reform party, on the other hand, tried to resurrect the same playbook that delivered Yoon to power in 2022. He attempted to provoke, polarise and win the loyalty of disaffected young men. As Yoon had done three years ago, he called for the abolition of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family. And during a televised debate, he asked: 'If someone says they want to stick chopsticks into women's genitals, would that count as misogyny?' The question was a nod to a controversial online remark Lee Jae-myung's son had made years earlier. Lee Jun-seok's comment drew widespread condemnation and, ultimately, he only scraped about 7.7% of the total vote. This included over 37% of men in their 20s, while 58% of women in the same age group backed Lee Jae-myung. Gender is a highly political matter in South Korea whichever way you look at it. Gender wars This gender divide is now one of the most consistent features of South Korean politics. Women are vocal and visible in public to safeguard not just their own rights, but also South Korea's democracy. Yet populist politicians have cultivated a perception among young men – squeezed by stagnant wages, fierce competition over jobs and social expectations – that their diminishing opportunities are due to policies they see as favouring women. This has resulted in many young South Korean men seeing feminism not as a movement for equality but as an obstacle to their own progress. In reality, their struggle has less to do with gender and more to do with structural inequalities in income and opportunity for all young Koreans. As Kyungja Jung observed in a paper from 2024: 'Misogyny becomes an outlet for their [South Korean men's] frustration and masculinity crisis as they search for a scapegoat for their struggles in neoliberal society. They blame women rather than the neoliberal economy.' Young people even from the best universities in Korea feel they cannot compete in the job market no matter what they do. South Korea now has one of the highest rates of young people not in education, employment or training among the OECD countries. This has given rise to the so-called 'N-Po' generation, who feel so disadvantaged that they have given up on all future dreams of marriage, family and a career. South Korea isn't alone in mobilising backlash against feminism and gender equality. Around the globe, gender has become one of the major fault lines in politics. In the November 2024 US election, Donald Trump led among young men by 14 points, while Kamala Harris had an 18-point edge with young women. Meanwhile, self-described misogynist Andrew Tate continues to shape young male attitudes online. And in Italy, Giorgia Meloni rose to power on a far-right platform that, despite being a woman herself, reduces women to their roles as mothers and homemakers. One model for change in South Korea could be to introduce quotas for women in politics to make their voices heard. Women only occupy around 20% of the 300 seats in South Korea's National Assembly, trailing well behind the global (27.2%) and Asian (22.1%) averages. If women are not in politics making decisions about themselves, then their voices will not be heard beyond the streets. Lee Jae-myung's win has given South Korea a moment to breathe. But the fault lines remain. When an entire demographic, be it young men or women, feels systematically unheard or structurally discriminated against, opportunistic voices can move in to fill the void. Gender is political. Ignoring it may be just as risky as confronting it head-on. (Authors: Ming Gao, Research Scholar of East Asia Studies, Lund University and Joanna Elfving-Hwang, Associate Professor (Korean Society and Culture), Director of Korea Research & Engagement Centre, Curtin University) (Disclosure Statement: Ming Gao receives funding from the Swedish Research Council. This research was produced with support from the Swedish Research Council grant "Moved Apart" (nr. 2022-01864). Ming Gao is a member of Lund University Profile Area: Human Rights. Joanna Elfving-Hwang receives funding from the Academy of Korean Studies. This research was supported by the Core University Program for Korean Studies through the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Korea and Korean Studies Promotion Service of the Academy of Korean Studies (AKS-2022-OLU-2250005)
Korea Herald
5 days ago
- Politics
- Korea Herald
Multicultural acceptance rises among Korean adults, drops for teens: survey
Korean adults' level of acceptance toward immigrants has increased slightly since 2021, but the reverse is true for middle and high school students, a government survey revealed Thursday. The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family released research results measuring Koreans' acceptance of multiculturalism through indicators such as cultural openness, prejudice toward immigrants and willingness to engage in intercultural relations. A total of 11,000 individuals participated in the research: 6,000 adults aged 19 to 74 and 5,000 middle and high school students. The research is conducted every three years as part of the government's efforts to develop effective policies. This year's results showed that the average multicultural acceptance score for adults rose to 53.38 out of 100, up from 52.27 in 2021. It is the first increase in nine years, signaling a shift toward more inclusive attitudes. In contrast, youth scores dipped, with middle school students averaging 71 points and high school students 68.52. Acceptance levels are typically higher among younger adults and students but decline with age. Among adults, those in their 20s showed the highest levels of acceptance (55.44), while those aged 60 and above recorded the lowest average score (51.14). The report also highlighted a strong link between direct contact with immigrants and positive attitudes. Respondents who had frequent interactions with people of different cultural backgrounds showed significantly higher acceptance scores. Additionally, the study found that participation in intercultural activities has a greater influence on improving acceptance than formal education. Youth who joined multicultural programs or volunteered with immigrant communities displayed consistently higher scores than those who only received classroom instruction. Public perception regarding the contribution of immigrants to society was largely positive, with over 78 percent of adults agreeing that the increase in immigrants helps alleviate labor shortages. Over 65 percent said they would have a positive impact on the general economy, while more than 55 percent agreed that they would contribute to cultural diversity. The ministry plans to use these findings to improve national social integration policies, focusing on increasing practical opportunities for interaction between citizens and immigrant communities. A government official emphasized that fostering firsthand experiences, rather than passive education, will be key to building a more cohesive and inclusive society. The National Multicultural Acceptance Survey has been conducted every three years since 2012 and is used as foundational data for shaping multicultural and integration policy in South Korea.
The Advertiser
29-05-2025
- Politics
- The Advertiser
S Koreans turn out in record numbers for early voting
South Koreans are turning out in record numbers for early voting in the country's snap presidential polls set to take place next week as both of the leading candidates cast their ballots. The June 3 election comes after months of political turmoil and a power vacuum following the botched attempt by former leader Yoon Suk Yeol to impose martial law. The liberal Democratic Party's candidate Lee Jae-myung, the frontrunner in the polls before a blackout period banning opinion polls began on Wednesday, cast his ballot in Seoul. "In order to overcome the current crisis... and start again as a Korea of recovery and growth, please vote," Lee said after casting his ballot at a university district in the city. Lee has pledged to establish a new Ministry of Climate and Energy to "respond to the climate crisis", and expand and reorganise the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family to promote equal rights and deal with any reverse discrimination. Some 3,107,164 people, or seven per cent of total eligible voters, had voted as of Thursday morning local time, according to National Election Commission data, the highest turnout for the equivalent period in a presidential poll. South Korea has 44.39 million eligible voters and early voting is allowed on Thursday and Friday. The top three candidates based on the last published Gallup Korea poll before the blackout period put Lee at 49 per cent public support, followed by his main conservative rival Kim Moon-soo of the People Power Party with 35 per cent and another conservative candidate, the New Reform Party's Lee Jun-seok, on 11 per cent. Kim and Lee Jun-seok also voted on Thursday. Kim had eroded what was a more than 20 percentage point gap with Lee Jae-myung at the start of the campaign on May 12, but has failed to convince Lee Jun-seok to drop out and back him to improve his chances. South Koreans are turning out in record numbers for early voting in the country's snap presidential polls set to take place next week as both of the leading candidates cast their ballots. The June 3 election comes after months of political turmoil and a power vacuum following the botched attempt by former leader Yoon Suk Yeol to impose martial law. The liberal Democratic Party's candidate Lee Jae-myung, the frontrunner in the polls before a blackout period banning opinion polls began on Wednesday, cast his ballot in Seoul. "In order to overcome the current crisis... and start again as a Korea of recovery and growth, please vote," Lee said after casting his ballot at a university district in the city. Lee has pledged to establish a new Ministry of Climate and Energy to "respond to the climate crisis", and expand and reorganise the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family to promote equal rights and deal with any reverse discrimination. Some 3,107,164 people, or seven per cent of total eligible voters, had voted as of Thursday morning local time, according to National Election Commission data, the highest turnout for the equivalent period in a presidential poll. South Korea has 44.39 million eligible voters and early voting is allowed on Thursday and Friday. The top three candidates based on the last published Gallup Korea poll before the blackout period put Lee at 49 per cent public support, followed by his main conservative rival Kim Moon-soo of the People Power Party with 35 per cent and another conservative candidate, the New Reform Party's Lee Jun-seok, on 11 per cent. Kim and Lee Jun-seok also voted on Thursday. Kim had eroded what was a more than 20 percentage point gap with Lee Jae-myung at the start of the campaign on May 12, but has failed to convince Lee Jun-seok to drop out and back him to improve his chances. South Koreans are turning out in record numbers for early voting in the country's snap presidential polls set to take place next week as both of the leading candidates cast their ballots. The June 3 election comes after months of political turmoil and a power vacuum following the botched attempt by former leader Yoon Suk Yeol to impose martial law. The liberal Democratic Party's candidate Lee Jae-myung, the frontrunner in the polls before a blackout period banning opinion polls began on Wednesday, cast his ballot in Seoul. "In order to overcome the current crisis... and start again as a Korea of recovery and growth, please vote," Lee said after casting his ballot at a university district in the city. Lee has pledged to establish a new Ministry of Climate and Energy to "respond to the climate crisis", and expand and reorganise the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family to promote equal rights and deal with any reverse discrimination. Some 3,107,164 people, or seven per cent of total eligible voters, had voted as of Thursday morning local time, according to National Election Commission data, the highest turnout for the equivalent period in a presidential poll. South Korea has 44.39 million eligible voters and early voting is allowed on Thursday and Friday. The top three candidates based on the last published Gallup Korea poll before the blackout period put Lee at 49 per cent public support, followed by his main conservative rival Kim Moon-soo of the People Power Party with 35 per cent and another conservative candidate, the New Reform Party's Lee Jun-seok, on 11 per cent. Kim and Lee Jun-seok also voted on Thursday. Kim had eroded what was a more than 20 percentage point gap with Lee Jae-myung at the start of the campaign on May 12, but has failed to convince Lee Jun-seok to drop out and back him to improve his chances. South Koreans are turning out in record numbers for early voting in the country's snap presidential polls set to take place next week as both of the leading candidates cast their ballots. The June 3 election comes after months of political turmoil and a power vacuum following the botched attempt by former leader Yoon Suk Yeol to impose martial law. The liberal Democratic Party's candidate Lee Jae-myung, the frontrunner in the polls before a blackout period banning opinion polls began on Wednesday, cast his ballot in Seoul. "In order to overcome the current crisis... and start again as a Korea of recovery and growth, please vote," Lee said after casting his ballot at a university district in the city. Lee has pledged to establish a new Ministry of Climate and Energy to "respond to the climate crisis", and expand and reorganise the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family to promote equal rights and deal with any reverse discrimination. Some 3,107,164 people, or seven per cent of total eligible voters, had voted as of Thursday morning local time, according to National Election Commission data, the highest turnout for the equivalent period in a presidential poll. South Korea has 44.39 million eligible voters and early voting is allowed on Thursday and Friday. The top three candidates based on the last published Gallup Korea poll before the blackout period put Lee at 49 per cent public support, followed by his main conservative rival Kim Moon-soo of the People Power Party with 35 per cent and another conservative candidate, the New Reform Party's Lee Jun-seok, on 11 per cent. Kim and Lee Jun-seok also voted on Thursday. Kim had eroded what was a more than 20 percentage point gap with Lee Jae-myung at the start of the campaign on May 12, but has failed to convince Lee Jun-seok to drop out and back him to improve his chances.
