[Power K Woman] "Burnout from Juggling Work and Family... Taking a Break Was Also Part of My Growth"

Yukyung Lee, Head of POSCO Procurement Division (Executive Vice President)

The "first female CEO and vice president" titles

Do not attach special meaning, but feel a strong sense of responsibility

Overcame invisible discrimination through performance

The girl who was once a "quiet model student" shattered the steel industry's glass ceiling in Korea. Rather than stepping out into the spotlight, she dedicated herself to the roles given to her and, over several decades of experience in the field and within the organization, grew into a leader who guides others. Yukyung Lee, who joined POSCO in 1990, became the first female vice president in the history of POSCO.

At the time of her joining, female new hires were extremely rare, so she recalls feeling grateful just for being able to join the company. Instead of setting her sights on advancing within the organization, she focused on faithfully performing her duties. However, as she rose into positions of leadership, she transformed herself and, in the process, developed her competencies as a leader. There were times when balancing the care of her four children and work became so challenging that she considered leaving the company. Even then, advice from mentors, trust from those around her, and encouragement from her family gave her the strength to move forward again. We recently met Vice President Lee at the POSCO Center in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, and talked about her journey of growth, her philosophy of leadership, and her thoughts for the future.

Yukyung Lee, Vice President of POSCO, is posing during an interview with The Asia Business Daily at the POSCO building in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jo Yongjun

- What was the biggest turning point in your career?

▲ In my early days at the company, because it had been so difficult to get in, my mindset was simply to endure and persevere. Yet, while juggling work and family life, I eventually experienced burnout. I even considered quitting to focus more on my home life. Upon a supervisor's recommendation, I took a short leave of absence. To my surprise, during that time, each day felt meaningless. That was when I realized that what I had considered a repetitive, hamster-wheel routine was actually a process of gradual growth and development. After that, my perspective on working life completely changed.

- Was there any decisive experience that shaped who you are today?

▲ I believe that it's not a single special moment of success, but the accumulation of many small wins that got me where I am now. When I was involved in procurement work, for instance, I predicted changes in raw material prices and suggested a pre-purchasing strategy, which resulted in real cost savings. Through that experience, I learned how to deliver results and how to gain recognition. Afterward, I gained the confidence to keep trying new things. That's why I still tell employees today: "Try to achieve one small success every day."

- Compared to when you joined POSCO in 1990, how do you evaluate the changes in perception and opportunities for female talent at POSCO and in the broader industry?

▲ Back then, hardly any Korean companies recruited college-educated women, except for Daewoo (now POSCO International). POSCO began its female recruitment after that. Although the job descriptions and salary structures were the same as men's, social perceptions were vastly different. At the time, women in the office were addressed as "Miss Lee," and there were elements in titles and practices that restricted women's roles. Whether a female employee performed well or not, her actions were often interpreted as characteristics of all women, rather than as personal traits. Now, though, we live in a time when individuals are recognized as members of the team, regardless of gender. I believe companies like POSCO—who initiated female recruitment despite internal resistance and burdens at the time—played a significant role in this shift.

Yookyung Lee, Vice President of POSCO, is giving an interview with The Asia Business Daily at the POSCO building in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Photo by Cho Yongjun

- You've set several records as POSCO's first female CEO and first female vice president. How do you personally feel about the "first" label, and does it carry a sense of weight?

▲ Personally, I don't attach a lot of significance to the "first" title itself. However, I do feel a strong sense of responsibility knowing that junior female employees are watching me. I believe that my actions and results should serve as a positive example for them. So rather than dwelling on the "first" record, I focus more on how to pave the way going forward.

- What was the most difficult part of your journey to becoming a female leader, and how did you overcome it?

▲ The steel industry is often seen as a heavy and cold manufacturing sector unsuited for women, but POSCO has an ethically sound and transparent culture, which makes it less challenging for women. The greater difficulty lay not in the systems, but in the biases still present in people's minds. In the past, one supervisor commented on the high percentage of female employees as a strength in terms of diversity, but also remarked that female staffers were less sensitive to evaluations due to the burden of family and childcare. That made me realize that invisible biases remained even if overt discrimination had disappeared from the system. I found the only way to change that was to deliver tangible results. I sought to overcome prejudice by producing outstanding outcomes in the work I was responsible for.

- What are the most common concerns among your junior female colleagues, and what advice do you give them?

▲ Most come to me not about the work itself, but about difficulties with child-rearing, family issues, or the challenges of working in the provinces. When this happens, I advise: "Take a long-term perspective on life." Being separated from family is tough in the short term, but field experience becomes a valuable asset as you rise through the ranks. POSCO, being a company where fieldwork is crucial, values direct hands-on experience; this becomes increasingly important compared to only office-based work in Seoul. Recently, some employees have felt frustrated seeing high rewards at companies like Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, but I tell them that over the long run, a stable company is a valuable workplace. POSCO has never had any issues paying wages or bonuses in over 30 years, always providing incentives consistently. If you look at the big picture, the best workplaces are those where you can build your career steadily and securely.

- In the age of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital transformation (DX), what kind of talent do you think the manufacturing and steel industries need?

▲ Going forward, the competitiveness of manufacturing, and particularly steel, depends on the automation and AI transformation of steelworks. There are many hazardous facilities in steel plants, so unmanned automation can simultaneously reduce costs and industrial accidents. POSCO is introducing automation and AI in various areas. Even the Procurement Division is pursuing DX of purchasing operations, and AI applications are expanding in office work as well. In both plant operations and office functions, the employees who can best leverage AI will be most in demand in the future.

Yukyung Lee, Vice President of POSCO, is being interviewed by The Asia Business Daily at the POSCO headquarters in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jo Yongjun

- How have you managed work-life balance?

▲ Looking back, I put more weight on work than on family. I would say I gave about 70% to the company and 30% to my family. Even with my mother-in-law's help, with late night returns and business trips, I couldn’t always focus on my kids as much as I wanted. I still feel regret about that. But since everyone only has 24 hours in a day, I made it a point to spend "quality and focused time" with my children whenever I could. On weekends, I tried to make up for what I lacked during the week with outdoor activities with them. I feel sorry for my children, but I've been comforted by them telling me they're proud of their mom.

- What do you think is needed for more women to become leaders?

▲ Women need to boldly challenge themselves in a wide variety of fields. Even if it feels a bit daunting, you develop your capabilities by forming a habit of tackling difficult things. Women are already performing much better than they think but often underestimate themselves. When it comes to female leadership, I hope women will be bolder, more confident, and more courageous in taking on challenges. In ten years, I look forward to seeing women as proud candidates for POSCO president or group chairperson as a matter of course.

- If you could say something to Yukyung Lee, the new recruit 30 years ago, what would it be?

▲ "Focus on the single step ahead of you, but from time to time, lift your head to look farther and check if you're on the right path." When you're running a marathon and wearing a hat, you can only see about the 10 meters in front of you. But if you keep moving forward, before you know it, you’ll have reached your goal. If you only focus on distant, far-off goals, you may get disheartened or burn out because of the gap with reality. So you should keep moving forward by setting and meeting small goals, while occasionally checking your direction. If you do that, someday, the future you've dreamed of will become a reality.

- Is there a book you would recommend to aspiring female leaders?

▲ Dan Wang's "Breakneck." It clearly shows the current competitive landscape between the United States and China, each country's strengths and weaknesses, how China has risen, and how America’s manufacturing base has weakened. The book also provides insights about the direction Korea should take.

▶Yukyung Lee, Executive Vice President and Head of Procurement and Investment Division at POSCO, at a glance

Born in 1967. She graduated from Korea University with a degree in English Literature and holds an MBA from Ewha Womans University. She joined POSCO in 1990 and has worked in key departments including marketing, raw material procurement, and equipment purchasing. In 2021, she served as CEO of N2B. In 2025, she was appointed Head of Procurement and Investment Division (Executive Vice President) at POSCO, becoming the first female vice president in POSCO’s history.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.