ABSTRACT
The fact that only seven women were able to win in the general elections during the four decades since the establishment of the Republic of Korea in 1948 bespeaks the tremendous difficulties women face in elective, politics. The cases of four women legislators who were elected at their first attempt suggest that the possession of prestigious credentials at the time of candidacy was of crucial importance for the successful election of women candidates. Yim Yong-sin and Pak Sun-ch'on, the two female members of the second National Assembly, lost their seats in the third National Assembly election in 1954, while Kim Ch'ol-an finally won after her unsuccessful attempts in the two previous parliamentary elections. The regional roots of the candidates in the constituencies is an important ingredient for success and can be powerful enough to overcome an adverse combination of constituency and party affiliation.
