Only 1 in 1,430 Women Rises to the Top in Big Firms

One out of every 90 male employees in the nation's top businesses rises to an executive position, but among women the ratio is a paltry one in 1,430.

Market researcher CEO Score looked at executives in 93 listed companies that are part of the nation's top 10 companies and found only 94 women.

They account for just 0.07 percent of 130,912 female staff in those firms, almost unchanged from the 2012 average of 0.06 percent. Among 5,699 executives, these high-flying women make up a mere 1.65 percent.

Except for Hanjin Shipping chairwoman Choi Eun-young, Lotte Shopping president Shin Young-ja, Hotel Shilla president Lee Boo-jin and Korean Air vice president Cho Hyun-ah, who were largely born into the right family, there are no registered female board directors at all.

Samsung Group had the largest number of female executives at 50, including chairman Lee Kun-hee's daughters Lee Boo-jin and Lee Seo-hyun.

Second is LG Group with 11 female executives, while SK ranks third with 10. Hyundai Motor has only one.