Women Comprise 51.3% of Local Government Employees in South Korea

On June 13, employees in the Dobong District of Seoul were taken aback when they reviewed the list of recent promotions for levels 4 and 5, discovering that 8 out of 10 promoted individuals were women. Notably, both of the promotions to the director level (4th grade) were awarded to women. A representative from Dobong District remarked, "While the gender ratio in public service has long been a non-issue, this was still surprising."

In today's public sector, it is no longer unusual to see women in key positions leading meetings. The once formidable 'glass ceiling' in public service is now considered a relic of the past.

This trend is further supported by the recent statistics released by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety on June 30, which revealed that as of the end of 2024, women make up 51.3% of the total 315,205 local government employees across South Korea, with 161,710 being female. This indicates that more than half of public servants in cities and counties nationwide are women.

Since the government began tracking these statistics in 2004, the number of female public servants has increased from just 64,683 (25.2%) to 2.5 times that figure in 20 years.

The rise in female representation is particularly pronounced among managerial positions (grade 5 and above), where the number of women has surged from 1,019 in 2004 to 9,283 in 2024, marking an almost ninefold increase. The percentage of women in these roles has also jumped from 5.9% to 34.7%.

In departments considered crucial within local governments, such as planning, budgeting, human resources, and auditing, the female representation stands at 50.1%.

In the Mapo District of Seoul, three women were promoted to director (4th grade) on May 12, resulting in 6 out of 10 directors being female. Additionally, among the 44 department heads in Seoul, 16 (36%) are women. A representative from the city noted that women are increasingly visible in fields like urban planning, transportation, and landscaping. On July 1, Lee Min-kyung was appointed as the first female spokesperson for the city.

A representative from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety stated, "This increase in female public servants is not just quantitative; it also signifies a qualitative enhancement in women's roles and authority."

The trend of women in public service is expected to continue growing, with the percentage of women among grade 6 public servants nearing 48.4%, almost half.

Regionally, Busan boasts the highest percentage of female public servants among metropolitan governments, with 10,769 out of 18,717 employees (57.5%) being women. Seoul follows with 55.4%, and Incheon with 54.3%. Among grade 5 and above public servants, Busan also leads with a female representation of 48.9%, while Daegu and Incheon have 41.5% each.

Public servants have noted that the increasing number of women has significantly transformed the previously rigid organizational culture. A notable change is in the dining culture; a representative from Yongsan District mentioned, "In the past, evening drinking was mandatory, but now lunch gatherings are more common, and there are hardly any after-parties."

The number of public servants taking parental leave has also risen dramatically, with 12,235 local government employees utilizing this benefit last year, a twelvefold increase from 989 in 2004. A team leader from Gyeonggi Province remarked, "Local governments encourage parental leave and offer incentives, but the most important factor is creating an environment where employees can take leave without hesitation, thanks to the support of senior female colleagues."

The barriers between male and female roles in public service have also begun to dissolve. Most local governments now assign women to traditionally male-dominated tasks such as night shifts, street vendor inspections, and snow removal. A public servant from a district office in Seoul stated, "Now, tasks like transporting printer paper or organizing supply rooms are done collectively, regardless of gender." In Geumcheon District, the gender ratio in the cleaning department has recently reached parity at 50-50 due to the inclusion of female public servants.

Some local governments have even outsourced physically demanding tasks like snow removal to external companies to avoid potential reverse discrimination issues. A representative from a district office in Seoul explained, "If we only assign these tasks to men, it could lead to allegations of reverse discrimination, so we recently contracted with an external company."

Professor Hong Seong-gul from Korea University emphasized, "The number of capable women in public service is on the rise, and this positive atmosphere should also spread to the private sector."