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.

While societal challenges affect all young people in South Korea, young men often feel these pressures more acutely. Hegemonic masculinity has historically positioned men as the primary breadwinners and protectors of the family.

Neoliberal self-development, which is linked to the ideology of individualism and self-reliance, intensifies competition and pressures men to live up to traditional masculine standards of success in an increasingly cutthroat environment. Amid this frustration, government agencies like the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family (MOGEF) — designed to advance women’s rights and gender equality — are seen by some younger men as introducing unfair advantages for women. Efforts to address gender imbalances can provoke feelings of victimisation among men, who view these policies as preferential treatment that disregards their struggles.

Gendered disillusionment in South Korea reached its peak during the 2022

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