[Exclusive] No Women Among Senior Promotions at National Tax Service in Past 5 Years... Serious Glass Ceiling Issue

No Woman Promoted to Grade 3 Since 2016
Most Women Promoted to Grade 4 Are 'Haengsi Graduates'

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Sehee] It has been pointed out that high-ranking promotions at the National Tax Service (NTS) are heavily skewed toward men. Among high-ranking promotions, there were no women at all, and differences in promotion periods by rank were observed, indicating that the "glass ceiling" still persists. The glass ceiling refers to the invisible barrier women face when advancing to managerial or senior positions.

According to data on the "Status of Promotion Periods by Rank and Gender for the Past Five Years," submitted by the NTS to Kim Jooyoung, a member of the National Assembly's Planning and Finance Committee from the Democratic Party of Korea, all high-ranking promotions (Grade 2 and above) were held by men (36 people). During the same period, not a single woman was promoted.

Since one woman was promoted to Grade 3 in 2016, no women have been promoted to this grade up to this year. Typically, about 10 to 13 people are promoted to Grade 3 annually.

There was also a notable point among Grade 4 promotions. Among men promoted to Grade 4, the proportion of those hired through special recruitment at Grade 8 or open competitive recruitment at Grade 7 was higher than those from the Administrative Examination (Haengsi). However, most women promoted to Grade 4 were Haengsi graduates. Unlike men, it is difficult to find women who are not Haengsi graduates reaching Grade 4.

Analyzing Grade 8 promotions by gender and duration, men took an average of 36 months, while women took about 39.75 months, which is longer.

For Grade 7 promotions, men took 72.25 months on average, whereas women took 77.25 months, widening the gap further.

Assemblyman Kim said, "Private companies are also striving to eliminate promotion-related gender discrimination practices known as the glass ceiling," adding, "As a government agency, the National Tax Service should take a more proactive role in eradicating gender discrimination and the glass ceiling."

He further emphasized, "Efforts should be made to reduce not only the gender gap in promotion periods but also the disparity in numbers at high-ranking levels."

Meanwhile, the Planning and Finance Committee is conducting an audit of the NTS at the government Sejong Complex today. It is expected that criticisms will continue regarding poor tax administration, the absence of women among high-ranking promotions, and habitual high-ranking tax delinquents.

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