1. Women Astronomers in Korea
 Hyesung Kang
Pusan National University
Women in Astronomy Division of KAS
Women Astronomers in East Asian

2. Women Astronomers in East Asian Region @EAMA10
Q: Are we playing in a level field ?
Does science rewards scientists of equal ability with equal rewards, completely independent of their gender, personal connections, educational background and so on ?
If ‘meritocracy’ works properly in a society, then everyone has an equal chance and everyone is being treated fairly. Ability is the only criterion for success.
(Meritocracy is a political philosophy holding that power should be vested in individuals almost exclusively based on ability and talent. /wikipedia.org)
In Reality, female (or underrepresented) scientists are less likely to be recognized for their research, which leads to fewer networks, and less opportunity to prove their merit.
Women Astronomers in East Asian

3. Female students enrolled in science/engineering (SE) colleges
bachelor
masters
PhD
Fraction of female students in Science PhD programs is about 38 %.
(Year 2012, Rep. of Korea)
Women Astronomers in East Asian

4. Female Researchers with permanent positions
in science/engineering (S/E) fields in Korea
Permanent position
14.7
15.0 %
0.15= 3,728/24,883
Management level
7.1
7.3 %
0.073= 2,462/33,525
2013
2014
(year)
- Both numbers have been increasing steadily, but seem to be
leveling off at 15 % and 7.3 %.
Women Astronomers in East Asian

5. Female Professors with tenured (including tenure-track)
positions in S/E colleges in Korea
Tenured Female prof.
Tenured Male prof.
Public Univ.
618 (7.4%)
8,383 (92.6%)
Private Univ.
2,909 (14.2%)
20,543 (85.8%)
Female researchers with both permanent & contract-based
positions = 24 %
Women Astronomers in East Asian

6. Female Principal Investigators of Research Projects
in S/E fields funded by Korean Government
0.078= 7,278/93,831
-7.8 % of PIs of research projects funded by Korean government are female
cf. management level (7.3%), tenured female prof. in public univ. (7.4%).
-This fraction decreases with the funding size: smaller for larger grants.
e.g. only 4.1 % for grants larger than 1 million USD: female PIs
Women Astronomers in East Asian

7. Women Astronomers in East Asian Region @EAMA10
Membership of Korean Astronomical Society (2014)
Female
male
total
Full members 46
(13%)
296
(87%)
342
Student members
122
(35%)
230
(65%)
352
-35 % of student members of KAS are female
-13 % of researchers (with MS & PhD) are female
Female Professors: 9 (~13 % of total 72)
Researchers in KASI : ~ 15
Postdocs & etc : ~ 21
-no. of female IAU members= 22 (14%)
Fractions of Women Astronomers are similar to those in other S/E fields in Korea.
Women Astronomers in East Asian

8. Female researches at different levels
leading PI level
Accumulated effects of traditional roles in childbearing,
caring of family,
too many roles to play,
and possibly gender bias
7 % at
management level
Childbearing
Caring of Family
Lack of network
15 % at
permanent positions
Marriage
Change of fields
Personal choice
35-40% at graduate schools
The fractions of female researchers decrease in more advanced positions.

9. Women Astronomers in East Asian Region @EAMA10
Q: Are we playing in a level field ?
Is meritocracy operating properly for Women Astronomers in Korea ?
A: I would say “probably not yet !”
Q: How about “gender quotas” ?
Does it violate meritocracy, resulting in uneven playing fields for men ?
(1) special research grant program exclusively for female researchers
(Korean Research Foundation)
(2) special permanent positions exclusively for women
(public universities/public research institutes in Korea)
A: Gender quotas are only symbolic in Korea. Even with such quotas,
women scientists account for only 4-7 % in leading positions.
I believe hiring process in S/E fields is mostly gender-neutral in Korea .
- Should Korean society institute more proactive systems to promote
true ‘meritocracy’ ?
- Is gender-imbalance a problem of human nature (motherhood) and
social and cultural attitudes toward women?
Women Astronomers in East Asian