"Reverse Discrimination Against Men?" U.S. Cracks Down on Women-Only Programs, Putting South Korea on High Alert

Legal risks surrounding corporate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies are growing in the U.S. under the Trump administration.

A U.S. subsidiary of a Japanese company has been sued for gender discrimination after holding an overnight training program exclusively for female employees.

According to the Nikkei, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) filed a civil lawsuit in February against Coca-Cola Beverages Northeast, a subsidiary of Japan's Kirin Holdings.

The company operates in the eastern U.S., producing and distributing Coca-Cola products with a workforce of about 3,400 employees.

The issue stems from an overnight training session exclusively for female employees held in September 2024 at a casino resort in Connecticut.

The female employees were excused from regular duties, provided with lodging and meals, and participated in executive lectures and networking events.

In response, a male employee filed a complaint with the EEOC, arguing that it was unfair for only female employees to be excused from work and given various conveniences and networking opportunities. The EEOC concluded that this constituted gender-based discrimination and filed a lawsuit, stating that the company violated the U.S. Civil Rights Act.

The company has argued that male employees did not suffer tangible harm, such as reduced wages or lost promotion opportunities.

The lawsuit comes as the legal environment surrounding corporate DEI policies is shifting under the Trump administration.

In the U.S., policies encouraging the employment and promotion of minorities and women to reduce discrimination based on race and gender have spread since the 1960s.

However, following the U.S. Supreme Court's 2023 ruling putting the brakes on race-conscious affirmative action in college admissions, President Trump abolished related executive orders immediately after taking office last year.

DEI policies at other U.S. companies are also coming under investigation. Nike was investigated for potential discrimination against white people due to its executive racial composition targets.

As the EEOC actively handles complaints of reverse discrimination from white men, existing corporate human resources policies—such as women-only training or race-based hiring targets—are increasingly likely to lead to legal disputes.

Experts point out that foreign companies, including South Korean firms, could also be exposed to discrimination controversies under local laws if they apply DEI policies operated in their home countries directly to their U.S. operations.

Reported by Kim Minjeong | Video edited by Jang Yoo-jin | Design by Yang Hye-min | Produced by SBS Digital News
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.