The transformation of the family from 918–1392 Goryeo to 1392–1897 Joseon periods caused the gradual decline of Korean women’s status and visibility in the public sphere.
The most significant change was a shift from an emphasis on a matrilineal to a patrilineal structure of kinship and identity.
[1] During the Goryeo period, newly married couples used to live with the bride's family, which offered numerous advantages for the women, not least of which was economic.
[2] In the Joseon period, the establishment of a patrilineal line eroded women's rights and privileges from the changing of residential arrangements to the rigid rule of primogeniture, which identified the eldest son as the principal heir, as considered important for the sustainability and continuity of the lineage.
[3] The moral of Confucianism imposed a strict division of the sexes, presumably to prevent adultery and other sexual misconducts.
[3] The institution of "Seven Evils Rules"[4] (which included the inability to bear a son, disobedience to her parents-in-law, adultery, display of jealousy, chronic illness, theft, and loquacity) gave men the opportunity to use these clauses to divorce their wives.
A large number of Western Christian missionaries came to South Korea to set up modern schools.
Some of these were established in order to educate women in diverse areas including literature, arts, and religion.
Women were granted the constitutional right to equal opportunities and could pursue education, work, and public life.
As they took a larger role in economic activities, the educational level of women also increased, providing additional opportunities for professionalization.