Causes of gender discrimination in Korean labor markets

Earlier studies investigating whether women were more adversely affected th an men during the Asian financial crisis found that female workers had espe cially unfavorable experiences in the areas of labor force participation, i nvoluntary disengagement, recruitment, and wages. This paper reviews variou s theories of gender discrimination to understand the causes of gender disc rimination in the South Korean labor market and tests hypotheses drawn from various theories, using survey data on employers. The results of this stud y are not conclusive, but provide support for the cultural gender stereotyp ing approach and labor market risks and costs approach. Based on the result s of the research, policy recommendations are made.