<p>We examined whether the pattern of depressive symptom networks and core symptoms varies across age and gender. Using the data from the 2021 Korea Welfare Panel Study data (<i>N</i> = 10,544), we divided participants into six groups based on age (19–39 years, 40–64 years, 65 years and older) and gender (men and women). We examined undirected (Gaussian graphical model) and directed (directed acyclic graph) networks of 11 symptoms from the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Depressed mood (i.e., <i>Depressed</i> and <i>Sad</i>) emerged as the central symptom in both undirected and directed networks across all age and gender groups. Regarding age differences, interpersonal symptoms (i.e., <i>dislike</i>) was the central symptom for younger adults, whereas low energy (i.e., <i>effortless)</i> was the central symptom for older adults. The edge weight between lonely and depressed mood was stronger in older adults than in other age groups, whereas those between get-going and interpersonal problems (i.e., <i>dislike</i> or <i>unfriendly</i>) were stronger in younger and middle-aged adults than in older adults. Regarding gender differences among middle-aged adults, low energy (i.e., <i>get-going</i>) was the central symptom for men, while interpersonal problems (i.e., <i>dislike</i>) was the central symptom for women. Depression treatment may benefit from considering both common and age- and gender- specific patterns of depressive symptoms.</p>