Gyeonggi Province's Gender Equality Index Rises Two Levels...Setting Foundation for Advancement

[Suwon Ilbo=Park No-hun Reporter] Gyeonggi Province has entered the upper-middle tier, rising two levels compared to 2017, on the 'Regional Gender Equality Index' measured and announced annually by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family. After a continuous decline since 2014 that left the province in the lower ranks, Gyeonggi Province's gender equality index has reversed course after five years.

The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family surveys the degree of gender equality in each region annually to establish policy implementation directions from a gender equality perspective, announcing the previous year's regional gender equality index. The regional gender equality index is an indicator showing women's level relative to men's level, measured by dividing into three domains—social participation, human rights, and welfare—and eight detailed fields. It publishes the gender equality levels of 16 cities and provinces nationwide, excluding Sejong City, in four tiers: upper, upper-middle, lower-middle, and lower.

In the case of Gyeonggi Province, the comprehensive ranking, which had been in the upper tier until 2013, declined to the lower tier by 2017. However, in 2018, it rose 1.9 points compared to the previous year, entering the upper-middle tier. Four of eight fields showed improved gender equality levels compared to 2017. In particular, the decision-making sector—which measures gender ratios of metropolitan and local council members, civil servants of grade 5 and above, managers, and committee members—rose significantly to 8.9 points, while the family sector, which measures housework time and parental leave usage ratios by gender, also rose 2.4 points.

The province is making various efforts, including appointing a female Administrative Vice Governor last year as a leading measure, establishing hiring targets for female managers in the civil service, securing 50% female representation on various committees, and expanding gender mainstreaming policies across all government sectors, and is expected to see further upward trends in the future.

Governor Lee Jae-myung of Gyeonggi Province stated, "I instruct civil servants whenever the opportunity arises to 'eliminate the act of distinguishing between men and women in people's minds,'" and added, "I will continue to concentrate the province's capacity to create a Gyeonggi Province where all members are respected without gender discrimination."