[In-Depth Look] Lessons from the Wonhyeong Stadium

The city of Arles, where the painter Van Gogh created "The Starry Night," is known for its mild weather. The landscape shaped by the Rh?ne River is also exquisite, and it is famous for its Roman-era amphitheater. While the Colosseum in Rome is the most representative amphitheater, there are still about 300 ruins scattered across Europe. Among them, the amphitheater in Arles is remarkable as it hosts various performances and games, much like Verona, famous for Romeo and Juliet, and N?mes, known for bullfighting.

The amphitheater originated from the Greek theater. Greek theaters have a fan-shaped, tiered seating arrangement centered around the stage, and as the name suggests, they are oval structures formed by joining two theaters. Transitioning from a semicircular to an oval shape allowed for a much wider variety of performances and games to be staged, accommodated more spectators, and provided a broader and more diverse viewing experience.

Moreover, while Greek theaters were spaces limited to men, amphitheaters were open to women as well. Greek temples and theaters were patriarchal spaces where only men could participate, but during the Roman era, with the advancement of women's rights, women were allowed to enter venues where performances, games, and assemblies were held. Amphitheaters were a product of their time, emerging alongside increased social participation by women.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, economic activity participation rates have been gradually recovering. As of October this year, the economic activity participation rate was 63.2%, up from 62.7% in October last year. However, by gender, women's economic activity remains significantly lower than men's. In October this year, the rate for men was 70.8%, while for women it was only 52.4%. There are about 2.66 million women-owned businesses in the country, accounting for 40% of all businesses, making them a major pillar of the national economy. However, most women-owned businesses are small and medium-sized enterprises or small businesses, contributing only 8.3% of total corporate sales. This indicates that women entrepreneurs face relatively challenging environments in their business activities.

Gender wage gaps have been a longstanding issue in Korea. According to OECD statistical comparisons, Korean women earn only 63% of what men earn, and there is a participation rate gap of up to 20%. Furthermore, many women quit their jobs when they have children. Career interruptions for women have already contributed to low birth rates and are emerging as a significant long-term national and social problem.

With the recent digital transformation, the gender gap is likely to deepen further. Policies and education addressing future job changes are needed, but there seems to be no sign of narrowing the gender gap. Therefore, it is a crucial time to implement substantial policies to foster both the quantitative and qualitative growth of women-owned businesses. Additionally, the fact that companies led by female CEOs tend to employ more female workers should be considered in policy-making.

When women's representation in public life decreases, diversity and gender sensitivity in decision-making processes decline. Unlike the male-centered patriarchy of Greek society, the amphitheater created an opportunity to expand women's social participation. The Roman amphitheater, which built a great empire, seems to still remind us today that expanding women's participation in social activities is a key driving force for national development.

Kim Young-woo, Research Fellow, Institute for Shared Growth