South Korean corporate gender diversity index rises as female executive share falls

A report by Leaders Index and Women in Innovation (WIN) reveals that while the gender equality diversity index for 394 major South Korean companies rose to 58.0 points, the proportion of women in high-level executive positions has declined.

Among executives at the managing director level or higher, the female share fell from 5.6% last year to 5.5% this year. While the number of female executives increased by 11, the number of male executives grew by 238. The report also highlights a significant gap in promotion opportunities: the ratio of male employees promoted to executive positions stands at 1.4%, compared to just 0.4% for women, meaning women have approximately one-quarter the opportunity of their male counterparts.

Regarding compensation, the average salary for men was 114.2 million KRW, while women earned 80.9 million KRW, roughly 70.8% of the male average. The banking sector recorded the highest diversity index at 71.6 points, though it noted a low ratio of female executives relative to the high number of female employees in the sector. Ten companies, including Hyundai Motor, Celltrion, and LG Chem, were recognized for excellence in diversity.