[2025 Women Leaders Forum] "Women, Don't Just Hear?Truly Listen"

2025 Asia Business Daily Women Leaders Forum
Session 1: Leadership Transformation
"Leadership Needed for South Korea in the Era of Great Transformation"

"Doing my best in my position can become an opportunity and comfort for someone else, and that motivates me to work even harder."

On the 6th, at Lotte Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul, a panel discussion was held on the theme "Leadership Needed for Korea in the Era of Great Transformation" at the "2025 Women Leaders Forum" hosted by The Asia Business Daily. From the left, Boksil Lee, Vice President of the National Governance Institute (former Vice Minister of Gender Equality and Family), Youm Meehee, Visiting Professor at Seoul National University Graduate School of International Studies, Suhyun Ahn, Dean of the Graduate School of Law at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, and Hyunnam Park, Country Head of Deutsche Bank Korea. November 6, 2025. Photo by Hyunmin Kim

At the "2025 Women Leaders Forum" Leadership Transformation Session-panel discussion on "Leadership Needed for Korea in the Era of Great Transformation" held at Lotte Hotel in Sogong-dong, Seoul on November 6, the panelists agreed that dedicating oneself to one’s role can contribute to women’s social impact.

Youm Meehee, Visiting Professor at Seoul National University Graduate School of International Studies, shared an anecdote about reuniting in the United States in 2019 with Carla Hills, former U.S. Trade Representative, whom she had first met in the early 1990s. "I told her that her example influenced me to become Director-General, and she was delighted," Youm said. "She felt great pride that her activities had a positive impact on women from another country. She told me, 'That’s why you have to do your best in your own position.'"

Lee Boksil, Deputy Director of the National Institute of Governance, is participating in a panel discussion on the theme "Leadership Needed for South Korea in the Era of Great Transformation" at the "2025 Women Leaders Forum" hosted by The Asia Business Daily, held at Lotte Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul on November 6, 2025. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

Hyunnam Park, Country Head of Deutsche Bank Korea, began by saying that standing on the stage again today, ten years after first participating in the Women Leaders Forum, brings a heavy sense of responsibility. She identified the creation of a "speaker culture"-where gender harmony is achieved-as an important social task. Park emphasized, "Establishing a social foundation where gender differences and other factors can harmonize is a core role of leadership. It is important to create a culture where speaker culture thrives. Instead of watching others and hesitating to speak, both juniors and women should be able to freely express their opinions. Such a speaker culture is a key indicator of business success."

Suhyun Ahn, Dean of the Graduate School of Law at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, stressed the importance of innovation and integration. "Leadership that constantly pursues new changes and takes the first step toward innovation is essential," she said. "Only when such influential leaders exist can positive changes occur around them. This is the kind of integrative leadership we need."

With over 30 years of experience working at global companies, Hyunnam Park pointed to "trust" as the most attractive aspect of Korea, according to global firms. "Foreigners are most surprised when they see people in Korea reserving seats at cafes by leaving their phones unattended. That’s how trustworthy Korean society is," she said. "On the other hand, what I would like to bring from Germany is the absence of university rankings and the existence of many paths to become a top executive even without a university degree. I hope Korea can combine a trustworthy society with one that offers open opportunities."

On the 6th, at Lotte Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul, a panel discussion was held on the theme "Leadership Needed for Korea in the Era of Great Transformation" at the "2025 Women Leaders Forum" hosted by The Asia Business Daily. From the left: Boksil Lee, Vice President of the National Management Institute (former Vice Minister of Gender Equality and Family), Youm Meehee, Visiting Professor at Seoul National University Graduate School of International Studies, Suhyeon Ahn, Dean of the Graduate School of Law at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, and Hyunnam Park, Country Head of Deutsche Bank Korea. November 6, 2025. Photo by Hyunmin Kim

Youm Meehee also advised younger women to "keep working hard and never neglect building expertise," highlighting the importance of a culture where diverse opinions can be expressed in one's position. She encouraged them not to merely "hear" passively, but to "listen" actively, and to help create an environment where anyone, regardless of gender or status, can speak freely. She added, "At least in such an environment, being a woman did not work to my disadvantage."