[Power K Women] The Girl Who Traveled Two Hours Daily to Learn Computers: "In the AI Era, Women's Sensitivity Is a Competitive Advantage"

Renewed Presidency Spurs Bold Leadership
Women's Attentiveness Becomes a Competitive Edge in the AI Era
"I Will Focus on Nurturing the Next Generation of Leaders"

Kim Dukjae, Chairwoman of the Korea IT Women Entrepreneurs Association, recalls herself as a “peculiar child.” In the 1980s, when it was the norm for women to work as secretaries or in service positions, Kim—then a jobseeker—commuted two hours round-trip each day to Dongbang Plaza in Jung-gu, Seoul, just to learn about computers. At the time, there were only two computers available there. Even while working in other industries, her steady interest in information and communication technology (IT) led her to earn related certifications, and from the early 2000s, she ventured into supplying Internet of Things (IoT) devices for managing apartment building entrances and similar sites via mobile. By observing how disparate industries became connected through IT, she foresaw the possibilities of a rapidly changing world long before others did.

Now that artificial intelligence (AI) has become the new standard, Chairwoman Kim is using her years of experience in the IT industry to focus on fostering women IT entrepreneurs. Earlier this year, she was reappointed as chairwoman, preparing to embark on new challenges and pursue innovation in her role. We met with Chairwoman Kim to discuss the competencies needed in the era of AI, and the opportunities and obstacles that women IT entrepreneurs will face.

Kim Dukjae, Chairwoman of the Korea IT Women Entrepreneurs Association, is being interviewed by The Asia Business Daily at the Korea Science and Technology Center in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, on May 27. Photo by Kang Jinhyung

-Could you briefly introduce what the Korea IT Women Entrepreneurs Association is?

▲It is the only organization for women entrepreneurs under the Ministry of Science and ICT, established in 2001. Over 460 member companies are active across all fields of ICT, including software, artificial intelligence (AI), platforms, content, and security. The most important role of the Association is to serve as a bridge, conveying the voices of women IT entrepreneurs to the government and policy authorities, thus linking policy and the business landscape. Additionally, we are committed to nurturing new women entrepreneurs by supporting ICT education and startups.

Recently, as AI has rapidly spread across all industries, the scope of our member companies has also diversified. Firms from traditional sectors such as manufacturing, construction, housing, welfare, safety, and care are approaching the Association in pursuit of integrating AI and digital technologies. I believe that it is no longer the sector in which a company operates, but how effectively it utilizes technology and data and achieves digital transformation, that determines its competitiveness and growth potential.

-You were reappointed as Chairwoman for the 11th term in February this year. What led you to decide to lead the Association once more?

▲When I first took office, I set the direction as “Re-Start, Re-Challenge, Re-Innovation,” emphasizing the need for the Association to begin anew, face new challenges, and innovate. During my previous term, I focused on enhancing the competitiveness of women IT entrepreneurs and establishing an ecosystem to prepare for the AI era.

Now, I believe the Association must provide practical support so that companies can respond to technology changes spurred by AI, building upon the foundation laid so far. We have designated this year as the “Year of Fostering Young Entrepreneurs” and are actively supporting current employees with AI education, as well as STEM female college students with job-seeking and entrepreneurship activities. Recently, we brought on the Association’s youngest-ever senior vice president, a 40-year-old, in an effort to drive change throughout the organization.

Kim Dukjae, President of the Korea IT Women Entrepreneurs Association, is being interviewed by The Asia Business Daily on May 27 at the Korea Science and Technology Center in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kang Jinhyung

-Did you face any difficulties or prejudices as a woman when you first entered the IT industry?

▲At that time, the culture was even more male-dominated than it is now. The IT industry’s main networks and decision-making structures were mostly male-oriented, making it difficult to be recognized for one’s expertise as a woman. I remember when I started my own business after having my first child and developing a product myself. Back then, it was so unusual for a young woman to introduce herself as a “CEO” that I would often put “General Manager” instead of CEO or President on my business card. After returning to work following the birth of my second child, something even more frustrating happened—a male executive at the company copied a product I had developed and supplied it to clients. Although I felt wronged, the environment at the time did not support raising such issues. I had no choice but to keep it to myself.

-What do you think is the biggest barrier faced by women entrepreneurs in the domestic IT industry today?

▲I believe the biggest barriers facing women IT entrepreneurs are ultimately talent, capital, and networking. As AI and digital transformation accelerate, a company’s competitiveness is determined by its ability to secure talent, commercialize technology, and connect it to the market. However, many women-led IT companies struggle to recruit AI and software specialists, and often face considerable obstacles in attracting investment and entering markets.

There are still limits to industrial networks. For technology firms to grow, they need to connect with major players such as large enterprises, public institutions, research centers, and investment organizations, but women entrepreneurs generally have restricted access to these opportunities and information. As a result, I believe the difficulties faced by women entrepreneurs are not about individual capabilities; rather, talent acquisition, investment, market entry, and networking all intertwine as structural issues. The Association is therefore focusing on expanding inter-company connections and cooperation, and building an ecosystem where women IT entrepreneurs have better access to opportunities and markets—going beyond just capability-building programs.

Deokjae Kim, Chairwoman of the Korea IT Women Entrepreneurs Association, is interviewed by The Asia Business Daily on May 27 at the Korea Science and Technology Center in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jinhyung Kang

-AI transformation is progressing rapidly. What strengths do women IT entrepreneurs bring to the AI era?

▲AI is a tool; ultimately, it is people who use the tool in meaningful ways. The kinds of questions posed to this powerful tool will become extremely important. Thus, I am confident that women’s unique sensitivity, empathy, and delicacy will be even more powerful weapons in the age of AI.

The competencies required of female entrepreneurs have also changed. In the AI era, it is not enough to merely understand technology; one must also be able to link it with solving problems in the field and creating real value. In addition to a basic understanding of AI and data, it is important to develop insight to accurately grasp problems at the forefront of industry.

-Is there a book that has greatly influenced your life or one you would highly recommend to younger colleagues?

▲A book I recently received as a gift is “Life Lessons” by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross and David Kessler. It conveys the essence of life from the perspective of those facing its final moments. While reading, I felt that life ultimately asks us two major questions: “How can we live better?” and “How can we be happy?”

I was especially struck by the line that poet Ryoo Si-hwa left in his translation: “Live, love, laugh, and learn. That is why we are here.” While I have been busy running a business and leading the Association, I now think that the most important thing is how we live in the present moment. Not putting off what makes your heart race, treasuring time with loved ones, learning even in failure, and ultimately living true to oneself—these, I believe, make for a good life. I would tell my juniors not to simply race toward success, but to take time to ask themselves why they are doing what they do and what kind of life they want to lead. I think such questions make people deeper and stronger.

-Is there anything you would like to say to younger women entrepreneurs?

▲I would tell them not to wait until they are perfectly prepared, but to start with what they can do now. After all, people learn through the process of taking on challenges and become stronger through experiencing failure. I would also encourage them to live in a way that is true to themselves. Rather than fitting yourself to society’s definition of success, it is most important to use your strengths to do what truly adds value to the world. Finally, I would like them to believe more in their own potential. Each challenge might seem small, but when one person bravely forges a path, it gives strength to others who see it. As we bloom together in this way, I believe both the industry and society will gradually change.

Ten years from now, I hope we will hear less about “how hard it was because I am a woman,” and more about “how women’s insight, sensibility, and leadership became critical competitive advantages in the AI era.” For such a society, the Association will strive to become an even stronger platform supporting the next generation’s challenges.

Kim Dukjae, Chairperson of the Korea IT Women Entrepreneurs Association, is posing ahead of an interview with The Asia Business Daily on May 27 at the Korea Science and Technology Center in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jinhyung Kang

About Kim Dukjae, Chairwoman of the Korea IT Women Entrepreneurs Association (CEO of TaeimOn)

Born in 1968, Kim was elected as the 10th chairwoman of the Korea IT Women Entrepreneurs Association in February 2024 and reappointed for an 11th term in February this year. From childhood, she was fascinated by computers and hoped to enter a related field, but circumstances led her to work in film and trading companies before she joined the Association in 2011. She currently serves as a member of the AI Social Policy Forum at the Ministry of Science and ICT, a screening committee member for ICT R&D Talent Development Projects, and Vice Chair of the Korea AI Ethics Council. She is also passionate about women’s leadership networks and, in 2024, co-founded and co-chairs the Korea Women Leaders Union, a group comprising women IT entrepreneurs and professionals.

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