Low Representation of Female University Presidents in South Korea Compared to the U.S.

A recent report from the Korean Council for University Education (대교협) reveals that the proportion of female presidents at South Korean four-year universities remains significantly low, at just 6.6%. This figure is only one-fifth of the female president ratio in U.S. universities, which stands at 32.8% as of July 2022.

As of last year, there were 183 university presidents across national, public, and private institutions in South Korea, excluding seven universities operating under acting presidents. Among these, only 12 were women, while 171 were men. The number of female university presidents has stagnated since 2021, when it dropped from 15 to 12, maintaining a ratio below 7% for the past four years.

The average age of university presidents in South Korea is 64.4 years, compared to 60.0 years in the U.S. The majority of South Korean university presidents are in their 60s, with 115 individuals (63.2%) falling into this age group. The average tenure for university presidents in South Korea is 4.3 years, which is shorter than the 5.9 years observed in the U.S.

A staggering 95.1% of South Korean university presidents, totaling 173, obtained their undergraduate degrees from domestic institutions. The most common alma mater is Seoul National University, with 44 graduates (24.2%), followed by Korea University (16 graduates, 8.8%) and Yonsei University (13 graduates, 7.1%). All 38 presidents of national and public universities earned their degrees in South Korea.

In terms of doctoral degrees, 68.5% of university presidents hold degrees in the humanities and social sciences, while 21.5% are in the sciences, 5.0% in the arts, and 3.9% in medicine. An education sector representative noted that the overwhelming majority of university presidents are male, predominantly from similar backgrounds—specifically, male graduates in their 60s with doctoral degrees in the humanities from Seoul National University—indicating a lack of diversity in leadership positions.