South Korea Now has 6% Women Executives in Top Companies

The number of women in executive positions in South Korea's top 100 corporations has reached 6%, a historic achievement for gender diversity in corporate leadership. According to data provided by global headhunter UnicoSearch, 439 of the 7,345 executives hired in the first half of this year were women.

This rising trend has been steady throughout the last five years, beginning at 3.5 percent in 2019 and progressing to 6 percent in 2023. Outside directors were not included in the statistics, but executive directors, family members, and unregistered directors were. According to UnicoSearch, the number of female CEOs in the top 100 corporations will surpass 500 by 2025.

Women had executive roles in 72 of the top 100 organizations, with IT firms topping the way with 39.2 percent. Notably, female leadership presence is low in industries such as shipbuilding, shipping, steel, energy, and mechanics.

Samsung Electronics took the lead with 72 female executives, followed by CJ Cheiljedang, Naver, and Hyundai Motor. Companies with 10 or more women in executive positions included Lotte Shopping, Amorepacific, LG Electronics, LG Uplus, Mirae Asset Securities, KT, SK Telecom, and SK Holdings. Notably, eight women served on the board of directors, including four CEOs. This advancement demonstrates a good movement in South Korea's corporate landscape toward more gender inclusion.