Chores are changing, but women still stuck doing most of them
Published: 29 Apr. 2026, 16:59
Updated: 29 Apr. 2026, 18:19
![An image of dishes ready to be washed in the sink [YONHAP]](https://koreaseafood.online/data/photo/2026/04/29/339fd680-2440-4e1e-9f8a-57a9995b5d2f.jpg)
An image of dishes ready to be washed in the sink [YONHAP]
Women performed unpaid household labor equivalent to about 16.46 million won ($11,140) per year, nearly 2.7 times higher than that of men, according to a government report released on Wednesday.
The report, compiled by the Ministry of Data and Statistics based on data from 2024, assigns monetary value to unpaid domestic work such as preparing for meals, cooking, cleaning and caregiving to capture economic contributions not reflected in income statistics.
The total value of unpaid household work reached 582.4 trillion won last year, up 20 percent from five years earlier. The figure is equivalent to 22.8 percent of nominal GDP. Household labor value per capita also rose 20 percent over the same period to 11.25 million won.
Although average daily time spent on household work per person fell from 137 minutes in 2019 to 132 minutes in 2024, the increase in per-capita household labor was driven by more people engaging in household work and by higher the estimated hourly wages used to calculate its value.
The share of household labor value relative to nominal GDP fell slightly from 23.8 percent in 2019 to 22.8 percent last year.
The per capita value of women’s household labor stood at 16.46 million won, about 2.7 times higher compared to 6.05 million won for men. The gap narrowed from five years earlier, when it stood at 3.2 times.
![A woman wipes away sweat while cleaning [SHUTTERSTOCK]](https://koreaseafood.online/data/photo/2026/04/29/0e15bc9e-42e1-464b-8722-2ff3187ec00f.jpg)
A woman wipes away sweat while cleaning [SHUTTERSTOCK]
The value of men’s household labor rose by 35.7 percent from 4.46 million won five years ago, far outpacing the 14.9 percent increase for women. Men’s contribution to total household labor value also increased from 23.8 percent to 26.9 percent.
The value of unpaid household work by men increased regardless of employment status or marital status. Unmarried men saw the sharpest rise, with a 68.7 percent increase.
Shifts in social structure are reshaping household labor patterns. The value of unpaid work in single-person households rose the most with a 66.2 percent increase over five years.
By category, the value of household management, including cleaning and meal preparation, increased 25.8 percent. Caring for pets and plants surged by 60.4 percent, reflecting the rise in pet ownership and a culture of plant care.
Meanwhile, the value of caring for family and household members increased just 0.7 percent. Care for minors declined, while care for adults rose significantly, reflecting the impact of an aging population.
This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
BY HAN YOUNG-HYE [[email protected]]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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