In the police bureau of Joseon dynasty Korea, there were servant girls who were in charge of female criminals and suspects. They were called ‘damo’ and they were apparently the first female police force to EVER have actual arresting power in all of world history. 1/ 
The main reason why the damo were needed in the police bureau was due to strict Confucian rules that forbid male officers from touching female victims, culprits and corpses. Male officers weren't even allowed to enter the women's quarter. 2/
The damo, being women, were therefore able to take charge of the areas male officers were restricted from. They were also considered the housekeepers of the police bureau, in charge of serving tea and carrying out other menial chores. 3/
And what's really fascinating is that many of the damo were actually former palace nurses. Palace nurses who had failed their medical exam and had been demoted to the ‘damo’ position as punishment. 4/
Damo were therefore highly educated women who knew how to read and write, and who understood medicine and science. 5/
FYI: There's a 2003 K-drama called "Damo" as well! I never knew damo were historical figures until I began researching. They were so cool that I even made the heroine in my debut, THE SILENCE OF BONES, a damo :) 6/6
