These days... as many women as men if not more pursue successful careers in South Korea and other developed countries around the world.
However, without the tireless work done by the so-called "female firsts" up to a century ago,... the level of equality in employment that we enjoy today might never have been possible.
Our Kim Bo-kyoung take a closer look at the trailblazers who helped mold a fairer society.
In traditional times, women would usually support their families and consider that the best way to contribute to society.
However, as modern culture swept Korea, women were also encouraged to take part in economic activities and this led to the emergence of what is being dubbed 'female firsts.'
To show how women have worked tirelessly to realize their dreams for 100 years in South Korea, the National Women's History Exhibition opened a special exhibition on Monday named 'Women, go out into the world.'
The exhibition features photos, videos and relics showing how women's jobs changed from 1890 to 1990.
Special guests who attained the "Number 1" title in their respective fields attended the ceremony to share their stories.
Kim Mal-nyeo was the first woman in Korea to become a paperhanger in 1970s,… when paperhangers were exclusively males due them generally being taller.
Although she was a short woman who had trouble papering high ceilings, she never gave up and started climbing a wardrobe to paper them.
Lee Duck-hoon followed her father's footsteps to become a barber,... and out of 31 candidates who passed the first qualifying test she was the first woman to do so.
To this day, she's still working as a barber in her old shop.
"I was able to do my job all these years because I take pride in myself and I believe my work is the most important. No other work or technique is more important than mine."
The first female pilot in the South Korean Airforce, Kim Kung-O, who actually fought during the Korean War was also there,... donating her uniform to the exhibition.
Many of these so-called "Number 1"s in their respective fields paved the way for women in this generation to chase their own dreams whatever the odds.
However, there are still issues that have to be resolved in South Korea for greater gender equality in employment.
"Women's labor and its worth needs to be fully acknowledged. Only then can our society get better."
In South Korea, long-entrenched norms remain difficult to shake.
There's still enormous pressure on women to become a housewife after giving birth and working conditions for women still need to be brought up to speed, especially for temporary and part-time workers.
"By retracing the stories of women who broke down boundaries, we can get an insight into how to solve the remaining issues of gender inequality.
Kim Bo-kyoung, Arirang News."
