Punished For Getting Older 
   South Korea’s Age-based Policies and Older Workers’ Rights 

< Contents > 
Summary 
Recommendations to the South Korean Government
   To the National Assembly
   To the Ministry of Justice
   To the Ministry of Employment and Labor 
   To the Ministry of Health and Welfare 
Methodology 
Background  
   Population Ageing 
   Dual Labor Market 
      “Regular” and “Non-regular” Work 
      Company Size 
   Responsibility for Protection Against Discrimination at Work
   Retirement 
   Pensions 
I. Hostile Working Environments for Older Workers 
   Ageism Toward Older Workers 
   Older Workers Seen As A “Burden”  
II. Discriminatory Age-based Employment Laws and Policies 
   Mandatory Retirement Age 
      Incompatible with International Human Rights Law 
      Causes Disproportionate Harm
      Is Unnecessary
   “Peak Wage” System
      Based on an Ageist Stereotype
      Causes Disproportionate Harm
      Is Unnecessary
III. Re-Employment Programs Disadvantage Older Workers 
   Limited Government Services  
   Lower Paying, More Precarious Jobs  
      Legally Permissible Less Favorable Working Conditions 
   Occupational Segregation 
IV. Limited Social Security  
   Pension Eligibility Ages  
   Limited Coverage
      Pensions 
      Other Social Security Entitlements
   Inadequate Monthly Payments 
      National Old Age Pension 
      Basic Pension
V. South Korea’s Legal Obligations 
   Relevant International Human Rights Law 
      Right to Nondiscrimination
      Right to Work 
      Right to Social Security 
Acknowledgments 

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Title : Punished for Getting Older―South Korea's Age-Based Policies and Older Workers' Rights

Publication : Human Rights Watch, 2025 July (78 pages)

​URL : https://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/media_2025/07/southkorea0725web.pdf