Korea Deloitte Group Declares Ambition to Become a Leading Diversity & Inclusion Company

Korea Deloitte Group announced on February 10 that it has adopted D&I (Diversity & Inclusion) as a core management strategy in order to become an organization where all talent, regardless of gender or nationality, can fully realize their potential. Led by Group CEO Hong Jongsung, this declaration reflects the company’s intention to fully apply the global Deloitte network’s D&I philosophy in Korea and to establish itself as a leading company in the Asia-Pacific region.

Until now, the proportion of female partners at Korea Deloitte Group has been lower than that of other countries within the global network. To address this, the group received an assessment last year from an overseas consulting firm specializing in D&I. The assessment identified a range of improvement tasks, including building a female leadership pipeline and strengthening flexible work arrangements.

Accordingly, Korea Deloitte Group will push forward institutional innovation in stages. Key initiatives include: introducing a part-time partner and employee system; expanding flexible work arrangements and childcare support programs; strengthening sponsorship programs to foster next-generation female leaders; expanding the roles of female talent within leadership governance; and enhancing inclusion for foreign talent.

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In particular, the part-time system will allow employees to reduce their working hours in line with their needs, which is expected to greatly help both male and female employees who are balancing work and childcare. After operating a 30-hour-per-week pilot program, the firm plans to gradually expand it. In addition, senior-partner-level sponsors will directly support female partner candidates in developing new business and building client networks, thereby contributing to the practical development of leaders.

In countries such as Australia and New Zealand within the global network, such systems have already been used to secure diversity in leadership and to strengthen organizational competitiveness. Korea Deloitte Group plans to apply these global best practices in a way that fits the Korean context.

CEO Hong stated, “Diversity is not merely an issue of social responsibility, but a core strategy directly linked to corporate competitiveness,” adding, “Creating an environment where all talent, regardless of gender or nationality, can fully exercise their capabilities will directly lead to improved service quality at Deloitte and greater value creation for our clients.” He continued, “D&I is not optional but essential, and through this, I am confident that Korea Deloitte Group will grow into the company where talent most want to work and the partner that clients trust the most.”

Korea Deloitte Group has declared this year the “first year of D&I” and plans to announce specific implementation measures and performance targets in stages. It also plans to regularly make public the progress and outcomes of these initiatives, in order to demonstrate a transparent process of change.

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