Breaking the board: the rise of female Go players in Korea

Go, a 2500-year-old strategy board game with 46 million players globally, has historically been male-dominated. This study focuses on the recent rise of Korean female Go players, particularly notable after Choi Jeong's 2022 achievement as the first woman to reach an open major world tournament final. The research employs social representation theory to understand how changing societal beliefs and understandings have influenced this shift. The study addresses two research questions: 1) How has the representation, performance, and prize earnings of female Go players in Korea changed over time compared to other countries? and 2) What are the social representations of female Go players in Korea? A mixed-methods approach, combining descriptive and social representation analyses, is used to explore these questions, aiming to provide insights into gender dynamics in intellectual competition and strategies for promoting gender inclusivity in similar fields.

Existing literature on women in Go is limited, with the study by Cho and Nam (2012) offering a foundational historical overview of Korean women's Go, divided into five phases. However, this research is limited by its reliance on a single source ('Baduk' magazine). The study draws parallels with research on women in chess, noting similar influences such as unequal access to resources, cultural stereotypes, and societal structures. While some studies explore potential biological differences, these have not consistently shown a significant impact on gender gaps in chess. The study leverages Social Representation Theory (Moscovici, 1961), highlighting the role of shared social knowledge and its core-periphery structure in shaping individual perceptions and behaviors, particularly regarding gender roles in traditionally male-dominated fields like Go and gaming. This theory emphasizes how collective beliefs and understandings, shaped by societal narratives, can affect women's participation and success.

The study utilized a mixed-methods approach. Descriptive analyses addressed the first research question, comparing representation, performance (via Elo ratings), and earnings (via Go competition analysis) of female Go players in Korea, China, and Japan from 1994 to 2023. Data sources included the Go4Go database, Go Ratings, and official Go association records. Demographic analysis calculated the annual proportion of active female players. Elo rating analysis used the Whole-History Rating (WHR) system to compare average Elo ratings across countries. Go competition analysis examined the number, founding year, and total prize money of open and women's competitions. To answer the second research question, social representation analyses were conducted. In-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine Korean female Go players. Thematic analysis, core-periphery analysis, and visualization of thematic relationships were used to identify and analyze emerging themes related to gender dynamics within the Korean Go community.

Descriptive analyses showed a significant upward trend in the representation and performance of female Go players in Korea compared to China and Japan. The proportion of active female players in Korea increased more rapidly, and their average Elo ratings rose substantially. Korea also showed a smaller gap in total prize money between open and women's competitions than China and Japan, suggesting greater equity. Social representation analyses revealed twelve key themes from the interviews: Representation Disparity, Performance Disparity, Stereotypes and Bias, Playing Style, Engagement, Infrastructure, Financial Resources, Fan and Sponsor, Family Expectation, Physical Capability, Training Opportunity, and Role Models. Core-periphery analysis identified Performance Disparity, Engagement, and Infrastructure as core themes, highlighting challenges and considerations within the Korean context. Peripheral themes, while less central, remained relevant to the broader discussion of gender dynamics. Performance disparity was a central theme, influenced by societal beliefs about men's inherent superiority in Go. Engagement and Infrastructure emerged as crucial factors, emphasizing the importance of personal commitment and the availability of resources and opportunities. The study also highlighted the influence of role models, particularly Rui Naiwei, and evolving societal perceptions.

The findings suggest a multi-dimensional picture of gender dynamics in the Korean Go community. The rise of female Go players reflects a combination of economic incentives (increased prize money and sponsorships), societal and cultural shifts (changing attitudes toward women in traditionally male domains), and institutional support (more women's competitions, training opportunities, and a national women's team). The significant increase in female participation and performance challenges traditional stereotypes. The study compares findings with research on women in chess, emphasizing the similar impact of economic incentives, institutional support, and role models. The study emphasizes the need to address systemic barriers and cultural biases to achieve true gender equality in Go and other fields.

The study demonstrates the significant progress made by Korean female Go players, highlighting the interplay of individual dedication and supportive systemic changes. While substantial progress has been achieved, challenges remain, particularly concerning financial stability for female professionals. Future research could explore the long-term impact of these changes, examine the experiences of female Go players in other countries, and investigate further the nuanced aspects of gender and performance in intellectual games.

The study's reliance on interviews with a relatively small number of female Go players limits the generalizability of findings. The focus on Korea may not fully reflect the experiences of female Go players in other countries. The reliance on existing databases for quantitative data might have limitations in the completeness or accuracy of the information.