Fact check
AI analysis“The gender pay gap in South Korea increases as women get older”
Reasoning
KOSIS, OECD, and Reuters data all indicate a growing gender pay gap from the 20s to the 40‑50 age groups. An academic study reports a modest convergence after age 55, and the Ministry report provides contextual factors for the larger gap in mid‑career ages. Overall, the preponderance of evidence supports the claim for most of the adult working lifespan, but the trend may reverse in later years.
On confidence: Evidence from multiple primary and independent sources shows the gap widens through middle age, though some studies note a narrowing after the mid‑50s.
Important context
The gap is measured as women’s earnings as a percentage of men’s or as a percentage difference; definitions and adjustments (e.g., for occupation, hours) vary across sources. The narrowing after age 55 is based on a single academic paper, while most official statistics stop at the 50‑59 bracket.
Evidence
Supporting (3)
- Tier 1 — Primary sourceKOSIS – Gender Wage Gap by Age Group, 2023
Women’s average monthly earnings were 68% of men’s for ages 20‑29, 62% for ages 30‑39, 58% for ages 40‑49, and 55% for ages 50‑59, indicating the gap widens as age increases.
- Tier 2 — Independent reportingindependent originOECD – Gender Wage Gap in Korea by Age, 2022
The adjusted gender pay gap rises from 13% for workers aged 25‑34 to 22% for those aged 45‑54, before falling slightly for the 55‑64 cohort.
- Tier 2 — Independent reportingindependent originReuters – South Korea's gender pay gap widens with age, study finds
A 2024 study by the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs found that the gender pay gap expands from 12% for workers in their 20s to 24% for those in their 50s.
Contradicting (1)
- Tier 3 — Secondary reportingindependent originAge and Gender Wage Differentials in Korea: Evidence of Convergence after 45 (Journal of Asian Economics, 2023)
The authors report that after age 55 the gender wage gap narrows, falling from 21% at age 45 to 15% at age 60, suggesting convergence in later career stages.
Contextual (1)
- Tier 1 — Primary sourceMinistry of Employment and Labor – Annual Labor Statistics 2025
The report notes that occupational segregation and lower promotion rates for women contribute to a larger pay gap among workers aged 40‑59 compared with younger cohorts.
Limitations
Data are limited to available age brackets and may not capture all cohorts; some sources use different methodologies, and the academic study’s findings have not been universally replicated.
- Last verified:
- Sep 26, 2026, 3:20 PM CDT
- Pipeline:
- 0.1.0
- Claim type:
- Factual
Where this claim appeared
South Korea's gender pay gap grows as women get olderDeutsche Welle