"More Female Mentors Added... Childcare Exception Included in Rules Restricting New Teacher Transfers"

"Policy Improvements Reflecting Gender Characteristics"... Implementation Rate at 60.4%

Comprehensive Analysis Results of Gender Impact Assessment Reported to Cabinet

To Be Submitted to National Assembly Before Regular Session... Outstanding Cases to Be Promoted

#. The Ministry of Education stipulates that newly hired teachers cannot change posts or positions for eight years from the date of appointment. However, through the gender impact assessment conducted last year, the ministry added exceptions such as maternity protection and childcare, thus ensuring work-life balance.

According to last year’s gender impact assessment, the implementation rate of policy improvements reflecting gender characteristics reached 60.4%, marking an increase of 3.0 percentage points compared to the previous year.

The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family reported these findings under the “2025 Comprehensive Analysis Results of Gender Impact Assessments” conducted by central and local governments to the Cabinet meeting on the 25th.

Major Policy Improvement Cases of Gender Impact Assessment in 2025. Provided by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family.

Gender impact assessment is a system for evaluating how laws, major policies, and more affect gender dynamics, including demand by gender characteristics, gender-balanced participation, and the elimination of gender stereotypes. Its purpose is to improve policies so they contribute to the realization of gender equality.

Last year, policy improvements incorporating gender characteristics were made in areas closely related to people's lives, such as work-life balance, participation in economic activities, and worker safety.

As a result, of the 25,721 laws, projects, and plans assessed, policy improvements were pursued for 7,291 cases, of which 4,401 cases were improved. The implementation rate was 60.4%, an increase of 3.0 percentage points from the previous year’s 57.4%.

The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family will submit the “2025 Comprehensive Analysis Results Report on Gender Impact Assessments,” which was reported to the Cabinet meeting, to the National Assembly before the regular session and will promote outstanding cases.

The following are major cases improved through the gender impact assessment.

The Ministry of Justice established an exception to allow the payment of a full monthly salary for up to 90 days to court-appointed defense attorneys during periods when work is suspended due to childbirth, miscarriage, or stillbirth, whereas previously, there was no such exception. This measure helps to protect the sexual and reproductive rights and economic stability of public defenders.

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy increased the proportion of female mentors in the Korea-US Youth Exchange Program in Advanced Fields—which sends science and engineering talents to foreign universities—in order to encourage the participation of both male and female students. The ministry also diversified participation opportunities by adjusting interview schedules or providing online interviews when male students find it difficult to participate, such as due to mandatory military service or reserve force training.

In Wando County, Gwangju, Jeonnam, the county provided personal protective equipment, such as safety helmets and safety shoes in various sizes, reflecting female body standards in occupations where women are the majority, such as park and green space management and environmental sanitation, thereby ensuring that gender is taken into consideration in the safety management system.

Minister of Gender Equality and Family Won Minkyoung explained, “The gender impact assessment is a key system for actively incorporating a gender equality perspective into various government initiatives and laws that directly affect citizens.”

She added, “We will meticulously review policies to ensure that no one is excluded from or disadvantaged in accessing the benefits of policies because of gender, and we will enhance the effectiveness of the gender impact assessment so that people can experience real change in their daily lives.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.