'Tough journey' - the South Korean mother blazing trail at World Cup

When defender Hwang Bo-ram takes to the field in France next month, she will become the first mother to play for South Korea at the Women's World Cup, challenging traditional notions of motherhood in her homeland.

In a country where the gender pay gap remains high, and marriage and child-rearing can cripple a woman's career, Hwang is the only wedded woman in the squad and its oldest member at 31.

It will not be the first time her personal life has made World Cup headlines: husband Lee Du-hee popped the question on the pitch after South Korea drew with Costa Rica in Montreal at the last edition in 2015.

Their daughter Bom was born 14 months ago.

Few expected Hwang to return to the WK League, South Korea's top-tier women's football competition, where only one mother -- now retired -- had played before.

But after her club Hwacheon KSPO restored her to the side in December, she made her national team comeback in April and this month she was named in the World Cup squad.

"Training has been very hard" since having a child, Hwang said before leaving for pre-tournament camp in Sweden, "because I have to set a good example".

"I didn't want to hear people say 'She's had a baby", or 'She's...