Glass Ceiling in Korean Civil Service

Abstract

The increasing female employment has become one of the most remarkable social transformations across countries. Along with the global trend, respecting gender differences and treating women fairly in the workplace have been increasingly important to accomplish social equity and justice for women. Gender equity in employment, nevertheless, appears to be less salient in Korea than in Western industrialized countries (e.g., the United States). This study analyzes the gender representation and barriers of women’s career advancement in the Korean government in comparison to the U.S. government. We collected the employment data from the Korean government and conducted face-to-face and telephone interviews with female public employees. The statistical data reveal that women are less represented in the Korean government especially in upper ranks than in the U.S. government. The results from interviews suggest that Korean female public employees share similar experiences with U.S. female employees in terms of limited access to upper level ranks and obstacles of women’s career advancement. Cultural differences such as strong influence from Confucian tradition and collectivism in Korean society may be more challenging to female public employees in Korea than in the United States.