Korean research sees steady rise in women's leadership and new hires

The share of women in research roles at Korean institutions has grown steadily over the past decade. New figures show a rise in both new hires and leadership positions, though gaps remain. Data from 2024 highlights progress in gender representation across 5,138 research bodies.

In 2015, women made up just 24.2 percent of new hires at Korean research institutes. By 2024, that figure had climbed to nearly 32 percent. Out of 20,739 new appointments last year, 6,616 went to women.

Leadership roles have also seen an increase. The proportion of female lead scientists—those heading research projects—rose from 7.8 percent in 2015 to 13.3 percent in 2024. However, no specific data exists on the total number of women in these top positions in 2015, nor on government policies introduced since then to boost their numbers.

The latest figures reflect a clear upward trend in women's participation in Korean research. New hires and leadership roles have both improved, though women still represent a minority in top scientific positions. The data covers 5,138 institutions but does not detail broader policy changes behind the shift.