South Korea’s gender divide has become a flashpoint in its democratic evolution. Amid economic stagnation and rising disillusionment, young men increasingly view feminist policies as threats to fairness, fuelling anti-feminist populism. Yet the roots of this divide run deeper — into the Confucian familism embedded in welfare structures, selective workplace norms, and a military culture that reinforces hegemonic masculinity. While women face structural inequalities, young men confront shifting expectations that clash with traditional roles.
For a generation nurtured on aspirations of prosperity and upward mobility, the stark realities of stagnant wages, soaring living costs and limited career prospects have engendered a profound sense of disillusionment among today’s South Korean youth.
This cohort has been labelled the ‘N-po generation’, a term denoting the relinquishment of numerous traditional life milestones. Initially coined as the three giving-up generation (sampo sedae) — referring to the abandonment of dating, marriage and childbearing — the idea has evolved to encompass additional sacrifices. These include home ownership, stable employment, personal relationships, health, physical appearance and even life aspirations.
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