"If you enter the Department of English Language and Literature of Korea University, you can study in that clock tower building!"

This is what her older brother, who had gone to study in Seoul before her, said while showing her a calendar. Born in Jindo, Jeolla Province, she moved to Gwangju to attend Gwangju Girls’ High School. In that moment, as her brother showed her the calendar, she fell in love with Korea University as if it were her destiny and dedicated herself to studying with the goal of attending the university.

“In the winter of 1985, when I was a senior in high school, I came to Seoul for the first time to apply for admission to the university. The moment I crossed the Han River on subway line 3 from the express bus terminal, the sunset over the river was a sight I would never forget. It felt like Seoul and Korea University were welcoming me!” (laughs)

Upon arriving at Korea University, she participated in activities with SES, the social club of the students of the Department of English Language and Literature, and the Korean-Japanese Cultural Research Association, where she met lifelong friends. “I met so many amazing seniors. At that time, there were very few female students at Korea University, which was concerning, but those few senior female students were so impressive and supportive that I never felt left out. In fact, I was proud of them. The confident female seniors I saw then have had a positive influence on me ever since.”

First female employee hired through college graduate recruitment

Until 1990, the year she graduated, major corporations generally did not hire female graduates.

“I initially got a job at a foreign company. But one day, POSCO Group published a full-page advertisement in a national daily newspaper stating that they would hire female graduates. The ad conveyed that the company would not just be a place women pass through before marriage, but a real opportunity to pursue their dreams, allowing them to do real work instead of just administrative tasks. I can’t express how excited I was when I read it.”

She applied for a post with the company and passed the recruitment process, then being assigned to the export department.

“At that time, having a female employee in the export department was groundbreaking, and the workplace was still adjusting to such changes. It was a long-standing practice for female employees to take turns cleaning their male supervisors’ desks and filling their cups with water. However, we, as new employees, protested and eventually changed that culture. When I heard that POSCO led the change and other major corporations followed suit, I felt a sense of accomplishment!”

“I am someone who has many flaws. To address those gaps, I read books, sought coaching, and actively reached out for help from those around me. I believe it’s important not just to regret one’s shortcomings, but to focus on how to overcome them.”

Handling almost all minerals on the periodic table

After being recognized for her abilities as the first female employee in the export department, she volunteered to transfer to the import department. After gaining experience in both the export and import of the minerals necessary for steelmaking, she later worked in the heavy equipment sector and the mineral raw materials department.

“I’ve spent 10 years in steel exports and 20 years in equipment and raw materials purchasing. I feel like I’ve handled almost every mineral you can find in the Earth’s crust. In high school, while studying chemistry, I wondered if I’d ever use that knowledge after college. But in my work purchasing raw materials, I've dealt with everything from coal and iron ore to niobium, molybdenum, and just about every other mineral that was just a symbol on the periodic table. Indeed, I realized that there’s no such thing as a useless subject!” (laughs)

Having successfully led significant organizations that had never been headed by a woman, such as the Raw Materials Transportation Group and the Ore Group, she earned trust and was ultimately appointed the group’s first female CEO.

Thinking that I would be aA role model for future female leaders

What thoughts crossed her mind when she became POSCO Group's first female CEO?

“I was incredibly grateful that the company trusted me and gave me the opportunity to lead the organization. I wanted to make the most of this chance to achieve great results and deliver outcomes that only I could ensure. I felt a strong sense that if I succeeded as the first woman in this role, it would help pave the way for future female leaders. I realized I needed to work even harder to inspire my female juniors.”

After her appointment, POSCO eNtoB's sales, which were KRW 600 billion in 2020, grew to KRW 860 billion in 2021, KRW 980 billion in 2022, and reached an unprecedented KRW 1.1 trillion in 2023.

“While working at eNtoB, I wanted to meet the expectations of all members that believed in me. When we set a record of over KRW 1 trillion in sales and saw all the employees celebrating, it was truly rewarding.”

The path of a pioneer: Relentlessly walking with passion

Finally, she was asked what advice she would give to younger women who are balancing work and family.

“I’ve been with this company for 34 years, and I believe the time I spent raising my four children intensively was about 10 years. If you endure and persevere during that time, you will be able to expand your dreams even further afterward. I often tell young women, ‘Don’t be afraid, and think of your work life as something you share with your family. Let’s come together and overcome challenges.’ Although I didn’t have much time to spend with my kids, my efforts to be diligent, read to them, and exercise with them at set times taught them valuable lessons.”

With diligence, composure, and sometimes fierce determination, she has blazed a trail as a pioneer. The path she has forged with passion is inspiring countless younger women with the fiery courage of a furnace.