◎ 용역의뢰기관 : UNDP
“Korea Human Development Report on Gender”
Background:
1)Korea is regarded as a successful case in achieving human and economic development.
Rapid economic growth over the past several decades has transformed the country from one
of the lowest ranked to an upper-middle income country, the 11th economic power of the world.
However, the first NHDR on “social development” published in 1998, jointly prepared and
funded by UNDP and the Korea Institute of Health and Social Affairs, showed that although
Korea achieved economic growth, the quality of life has not kept pace with the growth.
Many people still live in relative poverty; discrimination against women is still strong; and
there is serious environmental degradation of land, water and air.
In sharp contrast with the current overall economic situation, the status of women in social,
economic and political areas lags far behind that of men. Confucian principles, clearly defining
the respective roles of men and women, are strongly embedded and largely prevalent across all
sectors of society.
In spite of increased economic participation by women (49.1% in 2002), discrimination against
women is still present in every aspect of their social and working lives. Women’s participation
in the political sector is also negligible. (6.2% in Parliament in 2003).
Korea ranks currently 61st out of 66 countries in the GEM index, which stands in blatant contrast
to the rank of 27th among 162 countries for HDI.
2)The Ministry of Gender Equality was established in 2001, with the purpose to both improve
on the situation of women’s participation and “mainstream gender”. While several studies on
various aspects of status of women have been carried out, there is still no comprehensive and
holistic baseline overview and analysis of the real actual situation of women in society, economy
and politics and of the current status of the “gender mainstreaming” process, to further guide and
support the Ministry of Gender Equality’s 5 Year Plan, plan of action, priority setting, policies and
legal reforms.
Through strong advocacy and networking in 2002, UNDP Korea has been able to sensitize the
Ministry of Gender Equality with the potential value of a Human Development Report focusing
on Gender, at national level, and to earmark some initial funding for it. Under the financial support
by the Ministry and technical assistance by UNDP Korea, a national team at the Korean Women’s
Development Institute has recently completed the Korean version of the NHDR on Gender, and
reported back to the Ministry. The Korean report covers: 1) human development and gender;
2) GDI/GEM indexes; 3) economic participation of Korean women; 4) political participation of
Korean women; and 5) polity options and conclusions.
However, due to time and budget constraints, the Korean report still falls short in developing
practical and concrete policy options/recommendations to promote Korean women’s status.
Also, funding has been lacking to translate and publish the report in English.
In this regard, UNDP Korea, the Ministry of Gender Equality and the Korean Women’s Development
Institute have agreed to continue to cooperate further to complete these gaps.
Objective:
To promote evidence based on policy dialogue with the aim to develop concrete measures to
increase Korean women’s active participation in political and economic sectors, and thereby to
upgrade Korea’s GEM index in the long run. It becomes thus more urgent to come up with solid
recommendations,
as National Assembly elections will take place in April 2004, thus offering women critical occasion
to push for charge.
This report and its recommendations will be a major reference and discussion tool for policy
direction, planning, law-making and implementation, advocacy in the very near and mid term
timeframe for the Ministry of Gender Equality, various committees and/or NGOs working on the
advancement of women in Korea.
Outputs/Activities:
Outputs: 1) Set of gaps and prioritized policy options/recommendations
2) English edition of the NHDR on Gender
Activities:
1)Evaluation of the effectiveness of past and current government policies, laws, tools, and
structures to promote gender equality (analyze past and current government strategies, laws,
regulations, tools, etc.); draw lessons based on the analysis;
2)Draft plan of action for enhanced practical actions, strategies and policies based on
recommendations;
3)National workshop/expert meeting to review the Korean report and incorporation of further
comments;
4)Translation of the revised Korean report;
5)On-line circulation of the draft English report to UNDP experts, and incorporation of further
comments/suggestions;
6)Publication and wide dissemination/advocacy of the Korean NHDR in English
Expected Results:
1)The NHDR on Gender will be a very effective tool and guidance for further developing practical
strategies on gender-sensitive policies and programmes, and supporting the efforts to promote
gender mainstreaming in the Korean society.
2)Through broad-based participation in the policy dialogue, all the stakeholders will take more
ownership in a concrete manner of the “gender mainstreaming” implementation process, thereby
supporting and working with the Ministry of Gender Equality.
3)Finally, through in-depth review of gender-related data/statistics/index, strong and well
grounded policy options/recommendations, the ultimate expected outcome will be that Korea’s
GEM ranking will eventually be upgraded and the Korean society will become more balanced
and guided on the gender front.
4)The Korean experiences in gender equality/gender mainstreaming will be widely shared at
national, regional and international levels.
