Article Sidebar

Submitted
August 14, 2025
Accepted
January 21, 2026
Published
February 18, 2026
Download
pdf
Statistic
Read Counter : 20 Download : 82

Main Article Content

Abstract

This article aims to examine the implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) in South Korea, with particular attention to the influence of the country’s patriarchal cultural structure. It focuses on analyzing how and why patriarchal norms influence the implementation of CEDAW in South Korea. This article employs Cultural Theory as the analytical framework to explore how cultural values can affect the enforcement of global norms. It argues that the embedded norms and values within a state, in this case, South Korea, significantly hinder the effective implementation of international norms. Although South Korea has formally committed to implementing CEDAW and promoting women's rights and gender equality, the realization of these goals remains challenging due to the deeply entrenched patriarchal culture, which often marginalizes women’s roles in society. This article finds that the implementation of CEDAW is obstructed by the South Korean government’s reluctance to trigger domestic instability by imposing global norms that contradict prevailing cultural values. At the same time, the government faces international pressure to maintain its image as a committed actor for gender equality on the global stage.

Keywords

South Korea Gender Equality Patriarchy Culture Global norms CEDAW

Article Details

References

  1. Advocate for Human Rights. (2023). The Republic of Korea’s Compliance With the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.
  2. Ahn, A. (2022, December 3). Feminists are protesting against the wave of anti-feminism that’s swept South Korea | NPR Illinois. NPR Illinois. https://www.nprillinois.org/2022-12-03/feminists-are-protesting-against-the-wave-of-anti-feminism-thats-swept-south-korea?utm_source=chatgpt.com
  3. Barr, H. (2024). South Korea’s Digital Sex Crime Deepfake Crisis. Human Rights Watch. https://www.hrw.org/news/2024/08/29/south-koreas-digital-sex-crime-deepfake-crisis
  4. Bryman, A. (2012). Social Research Methods (4th ed.). Oxford Universitty Press.
  5. Carole, J. P. (2023, September 5). CEDAW’s Impact in East Asia: Part I — U.S.-Asia Law Institute. U.S - Asia Law Institute. https://usali.org/usali-perspectives-blog/cedaws-impact-in-east-asia-part-i
  6. Chang, P., Kim, U., & Studies, I. Y. T. A. C. for W. (2005). Women’s experiences and feminist practices in South Korea. In Women’s studies in Asia series TA - TT -. Asian Center for Women’s Studies. https://doi.org/LK - https://worldcat.org/title/123536444
  7. Cho, Y. (1984). South korea. 187–202.
  8. Coates, S. (2024). South Korea’s Feminist 4B Movement: Why Growing Numbers of Women Are Saying No To Sex. SERVICE95.
  9. Eunji, B. (2021, July 7). Debate arises over gender equality ministry’s role - The Korea Times. The Korean Times. https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/southkorea/politics/20210707/debate-arises-over-gender-equality-ministrys-role
  10. Habibullah, M., & Rahmah, U. S. (2023). The Patriarchal Power for Traditional Chinese Women in Pearl S. Buck’s “The Good Earth.” OKARA: Jurnal Bahasa Dan Sastra, 17(1), 134–152. https://doi.org/10.19105/ojbs.v17i1.8575
  11. Hot-Line, K. W. (2023). Analysis of 2023 Korean Women’s Hotline Counseling Statistic - Focusing on Violence against women in intimate relationship. https://hotline.or.kr/archive/?q=YToxOntzOjEyOiJrZXl3b3JkX3R5cGUiO3M6MzoiYWxsIjt9&bmode=view&idx=26140010&t=board
  12. Human Rights Bureau Republic of Korea. (2022). National Report: CEDAW 9th Periodic Report. Human Rights Bureau Republic of Korea.
  13. Kardina, & Yurisa, A. M. (2021). Analisis Gender Based Violence dalam Konvensi Cedaw pada Isu Kekerasan Seksual di Korea Selatan. Ilmu Hubungan Internasional, 1(2), 156–170.
  14. Kim, E. (2020). Post-colonial democracy and women’s rights in post-liberation South Korea. In Asian Women (Vol. 36, Issue 3, pp. 71–89). https://doi.org/10.14431/aw.2020.9.36.3.71
  15. Koh, E. (2008). Gender issues and Confucian scriptures: Is Confucianism incompatible with gender equality in South Korea? Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies, 71(2), 345–362. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0041977X08000578
  16. Korean LLI. (n.d.). Hoju system - KoreanLII. Retrieved May 2, 2025, from http://www.koreanlii.or.kr/w/index.php/Hoju_system?ckattempt=1#cite_note-0
  17. Kreutzer, W., & Mitchell, S. M. L. (2024). The Three R’s of CEDAW Commitment: Ratification, Reservation, and Rejection. International Interactions, 50(3), 418–447. https://doi.org/10.1080/03050629.2024.2327996
  18. Lebow, R. N. (2008). Cultural Theory of International Relations. In J. Haslam (Ed.), Cambridge University Press (1st ed., Vol. 1, Issue 1). http://scioteca.caf.com/bitstream/handle/123456789/1091/RED2017-Eng-8ene.pdf?sequence=12&isAllowed=y%0Ahttp://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.regsciurbeco.2008.06.005%0Ahttps://www.researchgate.net/publication/305320484_SISTEM_PEMBETUNGAN_TERPUSAT_STRATEGI_MELESTARI
  19. Leonardo Ernesto Puimara, author. (2008). Kebijakan korea selatan terhadap kresis nuklir semenanjung korea. Universitas Indonesia. https://lib.ui.ac.id
  20. Ministry of Gender Equality and Family. (n.d.). National Report Ministry of Gender Equality and Family. Ministry of Gender Equality and Family. Retrieved July 14, 2025, from https://www.mogef.go.kr/eng/lw/eng_lw_f001.do
  21. Mölder, H. (2011). Book Review: Richard Ned Lebow - A Cultural Theory of International Relations. Estonian National Defence College (ENDC) Proceedings, Number 14, 14(555), 269–272. www.ksk.edu.ee/en/research/endc-proceedings-nr-14
  22. Park, L. (2024). South Korea’s Surge in Dating Violence Exposes Lack of Protections for Women. KoreaPro.
  23. Petersen, C. J., & Richardson, W. S. (n.d.). How CEDAW Is Implemented in East Asia : Case Studies from Japan , Hong Kong & South Korea 《 消歧公约 》 在东亚如何实施 —— 基于日本 、 中国香港和韩国三个法域的案例研究.
  24. Republic of Korea. (2010). Seventh Periodic Report under Article 18 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. January.
  25. Runyan, A. S., & Peterson, V. S. (1991). The Radical Future of Realism: Feminist Subversions of IR Theory. Alternatives: Global, Local, Political, 16(1), 67–106. https://doi.org/10.1177/030437549101600103
  26. Sabbathani, D. (2024, October 21). Kasus Antifeminisme Viral di Korea – GEMA. GEMA. https://www.gemagazine.or.id/2024/10/21/kasus-antifeminisme-viral-di-korea/
  27. Tu Weiming. (2024, November 22). Konfusianisme. Britiannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Confucianism
  28. Vaddi, S. (2024). The role of Confucian values in Korean administrative culture: a cultural-contextual perspective. Asia Pacific Journal of Public Administration, 00(00), 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1080/23276665.2024.2396301
  29. Vikanaswari, S. A. N. R., Resen, P. T. K., & Dewi, P. R. K. (2024). Gerakan Penghapusan MOGEF di Korea Selatan oleh People Power Party (PPP) sebagai Political Branding. 4(4), 215–224.
  30. World Economic Forum. (2023). Insight Report. In World Economic Forum (Issue June). https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_GGGR_2023.pdf
  31. Yune, J. (20066). Tradition and the Constitution in the Context of the Korean Family Law. Journal of Korean Law, 5, No. 1(2001), 194–212.
  32. Yusuf, A. M. (2014). Metode Penelitian : Kuantitatif, Kualitatif & Penelitian Gabungan. Prenadamedia Group.