3.32% of Female Self-Employed in Their 20s-30s in Gyeonggi-do Experience Unwanted Sexual Attention

[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] It has been revealed that 3.32% of female self-employed workers in their 20s and 30s in the Gyeonggi region have suffered from 'unwanted sexual attention' from customers and others.

The Gyeonggi Women's Family Foundation announced on the 17th that it reanalyzed the '6th Working Environment Survey' (2020-2021) conducted by the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency targeting 2,423 self-employed workers in Gyeonggi Province and published an issue analysis report titled 'Labor Environment and Violence Experience of Female Self-Employed Workers.'

According to the report, based on the 2021 survey, the proportion of female self-employed workers who experienced mental stress and other damages due to unwanted sexual attention during work in the past month was 1.09%. In particular, for those in their 20s and 30s, the rate was three times higher at 3.32%.

The rate of male self-employed workers who suffered from unwanted sexual attention was 0.65%, and among them, those in their 20s and 30s accounted for 0.55%, showing little difference.

The proportion of women who experienced sexual harassment during work in the past year was 1.08%, with those in their 40s having the highest rate at 2.21%.

The rate of experiencing verbal abuse during work in the past month was 5.43% for women and 5.41% for men, while the rate of having experienced threats was 0.57% for women and 1.77% for men.

Jung Hyung-ok, Senior Researcher at the Gyeonggi Women's Family Foundation, stated, "Self-employed workers are in a vulnerable labor environment to violence due to the business characteristic of 'keeping the door open' at a specific location," adding, "Especially for female self-employed workers, who are exposed to risks such as sexual harassment and verbal abuse, strict surveys on the labor environment are necessary, and legal support is needed to ensure they can work in a safe environment."