Gender mainstreaming in Korean aid? Rethinking narratives about women's economic empowerment

Abstract Motivation The rise of gender equality as a priority in international development, despite concerning signs such as backlash and waning commitment, has shaped Korean aid's adoption of gender‐equality policies and guidelines under the banner of gender mainstreaming. Despite its increased commitment to gender mainstreaming, Korea's gender‐related funding remains low, and its recent emphasis on women's economic empowerment raises questions about how this concept is understood and implemented, particularly given Korea's persistent economic gender gap. Purpose This study examines how women's economic empowerment is conceptualized and implemented within Korean aid projects, paying particular attention to the underlying assumptions that inform these approaches. Approach and Methods I searched the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) website for publicly available evaluation reports and identified 12 aid projects related to women's economic empowerment. Findings The analysis reveals four assumptions: gendered skills and roles, the link between nominal participation and gender equality, the instrumentality of women's economic empowerment, and the notion of market‐led growth. These assumptions reflect broader Korean discourses on gender and development and present barriers to a transformative approach to gender equality. Policy Implications This study demonstrates how domestic norms and sociopolitical dynamics shape aid policies and practices. It also highlights the need to interrogate embedded assumptions, rather than simply adopting and institutionalizing gender‐mainstreaming measures, and to engage with divergent understandings and practices of gender equality across international, national, or local contexts.