11 Chungbuk Companies Including Hankook Ceramic Pledge to Achieve 'Gender Balance'

Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, Chungcheongbuk-do, and Companies Sign Tripartite Voluntary Agreement to Ensure Gender Balance

First Participation Among 17 Metropolitan Local Governments
"Creating a Work Culture Favorable to Women"

Minister Lee Jung-ok of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family / Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Hyun-joo] The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family and Chungcheongbuk-do announced on the 30th that they will sign a voluntary agreement with 11 companies located in Chungbuk to secure gender balance.

This voluntary agreement will be signed in a way that involves three institutions?the local government along with the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family and the companies?unlike the previous one-on-one agreements between the Ministry and companies. To prevent the spread of COVID-19, the agreement will be signed in writing.

Chungcheongbuk-do, the first among the 17 metropolitan local governments to participate in the agreement, plans to prioritize support for the participating companies when promoting policies to improve women-friendly corporate environments and to spread best practices within the local community. The participating companies are Diadent, Dongyang Bend, Beauty Cosmetics, CR Food, I&S, One&C, Eugene Technology, Ikim, Jecheon Transport, Piontech, and Korea Ceramic, totaling 11 companies.

Specifically, Ikim and Jecheon Transport will expand the proportion of female managers, while Dongyang Bend, Beauty Cosmetics, and CR Food will strengthen educational opportunities for the career development of female managers. Diadent, Eugene Technology, and Piontech plan to actively encourage spouse maternity leave and paternity leave. Korea Ceramic will ensure that no gender discrimination occurs in recruitment and job assignment management, and I&S and One&C will strive to create a family-friendly and gender-equal organizational culture.

Lee Si-jong, Governor of Chungcheongbuk-do, said, "We will take the lead in realizing a top-tier economy in Chungbuk where workers and companies grow together by expanding female employment, enhancing gender diversity, and creating a work environment favorable to women." Lee Jung-ok, Minister of Gender Equality and Family, stated, "We will also encourage other metropolitan local governments to participate so that gender diversity in local small and medium-sized enterprises can be practically improved."