South Korea has made big strides in promoting womens' rights over the past few decades, but there remain many difficulties and challenges for women, especially younger workers, the U.S. second lady said.

Jill Biden, wife of U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, also said in an interview with Vogue Korea ahead of her visit to the country that she hopes to use her visit to South Korea to learn more about measures the country has been taking to "even the playing field for women in the workplace."

Biden is scheduled to arrive in Seoul on Saturday, the first leg of a four-nation visit to Asia that will also take her to Japan, Vietnam and Laos for meetings on issues related to economic empowerment and educational opportunity for women and girls.

It will be her first visit to South Korea.

"Women and girls in the Republic of Korea have made tremendous strides over the past few decades, but I know they still encounter many difficulties, just as women do in many countries, including the United States," Biden said, according to a transcript provided by the White House.

"I'm interested in learning more about the progress women in the Republic of Korea have made on the issues of girls' education and women's empowerment. Young women and girls in the Republic of Korea excel in terms of educational achievements, but continue to face many challenges in the workplace," she said.

Biden said South Korea and the U.S. have a very close and strong relationship and the purpose of her visit is to build upon joint efforts the two countries have been making to expand economic opportunities for women in Asia and to give girls around the world an equal shot in the classroom.

Upon arrival in Seoul, Biden will visit the Jinkwansa Buddhist temple, where she will meet with female monks and discuss the role they play in the lives of the community, the White House said.

Later, she is scheduled to meet with Gender Equality Minister Kim Hee-jung and attend a reception hosted by Kim, where Biden will deliver remarks highlighting the power of education, the value of leadership roles and business opportunities for women in the workplace, and the importance of ensuring that women's voices are heard in the political process, the White House said. (Yonhap)