On the 29th of last month, the National Assembly's spectator seats were vibrant with colors as middle-aged women dressed in white uniforms and colorful aprons anxiously watched the screens. When the announcement was made approving amendments to the school meal law, which legally defines school meal workers and sets standards for adequate meal service, the women, who were school meal workers, embraced each other and shed tears of joy. This legislative change ensures that the government and local authorities will implement health and safety measures for these key workers in the education sector.

The contrasting views on gender wage disparity between young men and women surfaced following this emotional event. A survey conducted in November last year revealed that while 58% of young men believe women's lower wages are due to their employment in low-paying jobs and 50% think it's due to insufficient effort, 81% of women attribute the wage gap to the burdens of childbirth and childcare. Additionally, 65% of women point to structural gender discrimination. This divergence in perception highlights the ongoing struggle for gender equality in the labor market in South Korea.

Online discussions often mirror the views captured in this survey, where young men blame low female wages on women's choice of less demanding jobs and suggest that they should work in more strenuous fields, like construction or manufacturing. This indicates a deeply rooted misunderstanding of the systemic issues behind the gender wage gap and shows how societal norms and expectations continue to influence employment choices across genders. The passing of the school meal law is not only a victory for the workers involved but also brings attention to the broader conversation about equitable treatment and recognition of women's contributions to the workforce.