South Korean women receive half the National Pension of men due to structural inequality

Women in South Korea receive, on average, less than half the National Pension payout compared to men, revealing a significant gender disparity in the nation's public social safety net. Data from the National Pension Research Service indicates that as of April last year, men aged 60 and over received an average of 824,000 won (approximately $600 USD) per month, while women in the same age group received only 407,000 won (approximately $300 USD).

The gap extends beyond payout amounts, with lower participation and coverage rates among women. The proportion of individuals aged 18-59 enrolled in the National Pension is 76.5% for men but only 67% for women. This discrepancy is rooted in the pension system's design, which largely operates on a contribution-based return model. Consequently, existing gender inequalities in the labor market, such as the wage gap and job insecurity, directly impact pension benefits.

Researchers attribute these structural issues to lingering societal norms that position men as primary breadwinners and assign caregiving responsibilities predominantly to women. This division leads to career interruptions or unstable employment for women, resulting in disadvantages within the pension system. A study found that 72.5% of the gender pension gap is not due to observable factors like education or tenure, but rather structural discrimination.

To rectify this, researchers propose a dual approach: 'pre-emptive measures' to address labor market discrimination and socialize caregiving burdens, and 'post-hoc corrections' to the pension system itself. These include transforming the current 'childbirth credit' into a 'universal care credit' that encompasses unpaid care work, strengthening survivor's pension benefits, and bolstering the basic pension system, which guarantees a minimum income regardless of contribution history.