10 Million Korean Women Economically Active, Led by Proactive Women CEOs

The population of economically active women in Korea amounts to 10 million. Many believe the nation's future growth potential depends on efficient utilization of the female workforce. Activities of women CEOs are especially arresting our eyes. The number of companies run by women is 15,940 in 2007, accounting for 35.9 percent of the total.    

The number of women CEOs making inroads into manufacturing or construction has been on the rise. More and more companies have the employment of over 1,000, and not a few of them enjoy annual sales of over five trillion won. The Korean women CEOs are significantly contributing to turning the traditionally male-dominated corporate culture into family-friendly one.  

With the number of women CEOs growing, their network is also being ever more strengthened. Notable among the associations for women CEOs are the Korea Women Entrepreneurs Association(KWEA), the Korea Business Women's Federation, the 21C Women CEO Association, the Korea Women Inventors Association, the Korea Venture Business Women's Association(KOVWA), and the Korea IT Business Women's Association(KIBWA). These associations make joint efforts to eliminate barriers, and do their best to help their members achieve growth with more opportunities in the global markets.      

By Ju Hye-rim

hrju617@womennews.co.kr

여성경제인 1000만 시대, 여성 CEO들의 눈부신 활약

우리나라의 경우 경제활동을 하는 여성인구가 1000만명에 육박하고 있다. 한국 경제의 향후 성장잠재력이 여성에게 달려있다고 해도 과언이 아니다.

특히 여성 CEO들의 눈부신 활약을 빼놓을 수 없다. 2007년 현재 우리나라 여성기업의 수는 총 15만940개로, 전체 기업의 35.9%를 차지한다. 이들 중에서는 연간 매출 5조원을 넘는 기업도 적지 않다. 이러한 여성 CEO들의 활약은 남성 중심적인 기업문화를 가족 친화적으로 탈바꿈시키는 데 크게 기여하고 있다. 

여성 CEO가 증가하면서 여성 경제인들의 네트워크 또한 강화되고 있다. 여성경제인들의 모임인 한국여성경제인협회, 한국여성경영자총협회, 21세기여성CEO연합, 한국여성발명협회, 한국여성벤처협회, 한국IT여성기업인협회 등이 대표적이다.

 

Ahn Yoon-jung, president of Federation of Korean Business Women (second from the left) attending the 12th APEC Women Leaders’ Network Meeting in Port Douglas, Australia, in June. She discussed exchange between women entrepreneurs and signed MOU with International Women’s Federation of Commerce and Industry. In the photo she is along with Julie Bishop, Australia’s Minister assisting the Prime Minister for Women’s Issues (middle) and Heather Ridout, chair of the meeting (second from the right).
Ahn Yoon-jung, president of Federation of Korean Business Women (second from the left) attending the 12th APEC Women Leaders’ Network Meeting in Port Douglas, Australia, in June. She discussed exchange between women entrepreneurs and signed MOU with International Women’s Federation of Commerce and Industry. In the photo she is along with Julie Bishop, Australia’s Minister assisting the Prime Minister for Women’s Issues (middle) and Heather Ridout, chair of the meeting (second from the right).
The Korea Women Entrepreneurs Association(KWEA)

Established in 1977, the Korea Women Entrepreneurs Association(KWEA) has the largest membership of over 1700 among the nation's associations for business women. After an act on supporting corporations run by women was passed by the National Assembly in 1999, the KWEA formally started business as an incorporated association operating under the umbrella of the Small and Medium Business Administration(SMBA). Having 13 chapters across the nation, the Association has focused on helping women start new businesses.

The first chairwoman of the KWEA was Young-Shin JANG, chairwoman of  Aekyung Group, widely known as a godmother among the nation's business women. The 5th-term chairwoman of the KWEA is Yoon-Jung AN, president of Sara Corporation(Ansmode), elected in December last year. As a fashion designer, she also represents the domestic fashion industry.

For the last eight months since her inauguration, the chairwoman has made a notable progress: establishment of a general support center for women's corporations, and a management research center to provide business women with policy developments. She is now working to make the National Assembly pass a bill which calls for securing a quota of five percent of all government procurement from businesses run by women.

"The Association is going to do its level best to help women's corporation grow into being top-notch ones. To promote mutual cooperation and expedite growth of women's businesses in Asia as well as in Korea, we are going to hold a large-scale 'meeting of international scope for business women in Asia' next year," the chairwoman said. 

한국여성경제인협회

1977년 출범한 한국여성경제인협회(이하 여경협)는 국내 여성경제단체 중 가장 많은 회원 수(1700여개)를 보유하고 있다. 1999년 여성기업 지원에 관한 법률이 통과되면서 중소기업청 산하 사단법인으로 정식 출범했다. 현재 전국 곳곳에 13개 지회를 두고 있다.  

한국 여성기업인의 대모로 통하는 장영신 애경그룹 회장이 초대 회장을 역임했다. 현재는 안윤정(사진 왼쪽에서 두번째) 회장이 제5대 회장으로 활동하고 있다. 안 회장은 국내 패션업계의 대표 디자이너로 '앙스모드'의 사장이다. 지난해 12월 협회 대의원 선거에서 회장으로 선출됐다.

안 회장은 지난 1월 취임 이후 8개월 동안 눈에 띄는 성과를 냈다. 여성기업종합지원센터를 만든 데 이어, 최근에는 여성기업인들을 정책적으로 뒷받침해주는 여성경영연구소를 설립했다. 올 하반기에는 정부가 구입하는 물량 중 5%를 여성기업에 할당하도록 하는 법안이 국회에서 통과되도록 힘을 모으고 있다.

 

Kim Soon-ok, president of the Korea Business Women’s Federation giving a speech with the topic of ‘Strategy in response to economic change’ at a breakfast discussion meeting in April at Seoul Diplomatic Center Leaders’ Club.
Kim Soon-ok, president of the Korea Business Women’s Federation giving a speech with the topic of ‘Strategy in response to economic change’ at a breakfast discussion meeting in April at Seoul Diplomatic Center Leaders’ Club.
The Korea Business Women's Federation

The Federation of Korean Business Women was founded in June, 1993, and changed its name to the Korea Business Women's Federation in 1997. The Federation has carried out a variety of programs to promote exchanges among domestic business women, and protected their rights and interests. The Federation  has invited leaders from political, business, academic and cultural circles of the nation to its 'Breakfast Meeting with Business Women' which has been regularly held since 1997. The gathering has provided participants with useful information and help socialize and build up a human network among the participants. 

It has opened a school for business incubation and offered a course on management for the youth. Afterwards, programs for public services have also been pursued by the Federation such as 'Seoul Woman-Biz Fair,' 'A Youth Employment Package Program,' and 'A Marathon Race with Women CEOs.' Yoon-Mi LEE served as the first chairwoman and Sun-Ok KIM(photo), president of Sento Aries Inc. was elected the 7th-term chairwoman in July, 2006.

To promote exchange and cooperation among members for over a year since her taking office as a chairwoman, she has been meeting people to enlist help from the government, organizations and younger business women.

The Federation published the first edition of a quarterly, 'Women & Management,' in this past June to support corporate activities of business women. The chairwoman stressed, "The Federation will continue to be a reliable partner for the nation's business women. To promote their rights and interests, and support their corporate activities, we will be carefully sounding out their opinions, and make recommendations to the government."

한국여성경영자총연합회

지난 6월 창립 14주년을 맞이한 한국여성경영자총협회(이하 여경총)는 여성경영인들의 교류를 활성화하고 여성기업인들의 권익을 대표하기 위해 다양한 활동을 펼쳐 왔다. 1997년부터 시작된 '여성과 경영 조찬간담회'는 정계, 재계, 학계, 문화계 등 다양한 분야의 리더를 초청해 여성기업인들에게 유용한 정보와 인맥을 제공했다.

1998년부터는 창업 스쿨과 청소년 경영교실을 개최했고, 이후 '서울 Woman-Biz Fair', '청년채용패키지사업', '여성CEO와 함께 하는 마라톤 대회' 등 여성들을 위한 공익사업을 벌여 왔다.

이윤미 초대 회장을 시작으로, 지난해 7월 김순옥(사진) ㈜센토아리에스 대표이사가 제7대 여경협 회장에 선출됐다.

김 회장은 "여경총은 여성기업의 훌륭한 동반자로서 더욱 확고히 자리매김해 나갈 것"이라며 "여성기업인의 권익 향상과 원활한 기업활동을 돕기 위해 현장의 목소리에 귀를 기울이고, 이를 정부기관에 적극 제안할 것"이라고 말했다.

 

In May, president Kim Soon-jin (third from the left) and other members of the 21C Women CEO Association had spring workshop at Icheon Ceramic Village.
In May, president Kim Soon-jin (third from the left) and other members of the 21C Women CEO Association had spring workshop at Icheon Ceramic Village.
The 21C Women CEO Association

The 21C Women CEO Association(Chairwoman Sun-Jin KIM, photo) was founded in 2003 to help its members efficiently share knowledge of corporate management, and create a desirable image as business women. The Association is affiliated with the Ministry of Finance and Economy(MOFE).

The Association has been working to seek solidarity and enhance the social status of business women by inviting renowned CEOs of the world to its lectures, holding a forum for woman CEOs and academic conferences, completing a system to develop their capabilities, and helping them share their success stories.

21세기여성CEO연합

21세기여성CEO연합(회장 김순진·사진 앞줄 왼쪽에서 세번째)은 여성경영인이 효율적으로 기업경영 지식을 공유하고, 그에 걸맞은 사회적 역할과 바람직한 여성경영인상을 정립하기 위한 목적으로 지난 2003년 설립됐다. 재정경제부 산하에 있다.

세계 유명 CEO 초청강연회와 여성 CEO포럼 및 학회를 개최하고, 여성경영인 능력개발 시스템을 확립했으며, 성공 경영사례 공유 등을 통해 여성경영인의 결속과 사회적 위상 강화를 도모하고 있다.

 

In June, Korea IT Business Women’s Association held ‘2007 Global IT Women’s Conference’ with the theme of ‘Future and Women of IT Society’. President Park Duk-hee (sixth from the left) having her photograph taken with other participants.
In June, Korea IT Business Women’s Association held ‘2007 Global IT Women’s Conference’ with the theme of ‘Future and Women of IT Society’. President Park Duk-hee (sixth from the left) having her photograph taken with other participants.
The Korea IT Business Women's Association(KIBWA)

The Korea IT Business Women's Association(KIBWA)(Chairwoman Duk-Hee PARK, photo) was inaugurated in 2001 to safeguard the rights and interests of IT business women in Korea. As a bridge linking its members with the government, the Association has supported a network of business women, and professional IT business women. Major activities include an IT venture forum for women, programs for employment camps and mentoring, and job fairs for IT business women. 

With its membership of over 100, the Association is now devoted to management education for women CEOs, and retraining of employees of companies run by women.

한국IT여성기업인협회

한국IT여성기업인협회(회장 박덕희·사진 왼쪽에서 여섯번째)는 지난 2001년 IT 여성기업인의 권익 보호를 위해 설립됐다. 그동안 정부 부처와 IT 여성기업간의 교두보이자 여성기업간의 네트워크 지원, 여성 IT 전문인력 지원 등을 추진해왔다. 여성IT벤처포럼, 여성IT인력을 위한 취업캠프 및 멘토링 프로그램, 여성 IT인력 채용박람회 등이 대표적인 프로그램이다.

현재 100여명의 회원으로 구성돼 있다. 여성 CEO 경영교육과 여성기업의 직원 재교육 등을 돕는 사업에 집중하고 있다.

 

The Korea Venture Business Women's Association(KOVWA)

The Korea Venture Business Women's Association(KOVWA)(Chairwoman Hee-Suk BAE, photo), a private organization to promote mutual cooperation among women venture enterprises(WVE) of the nation, was established in 1998. It has been at the forefront of advancing the interests of the WVEs through lectures on starting SOHO businesses by women, briefings on venture investment strategies, a creative women's forum, and dispatching of missions for WVEs. With a vision, 'Go to the Future', the Association is now focusing on helping its members develop new technologies with a high added value, and aggressively explore markets.

한국여성벤처협회

여성 벤처기업간의 협력 증진을 위한 순수 민간 협력단체인 한국여성벤처협회(회장 배희숙·사진)는 1998년 처음 문을 열었다. 여성 SOHO 창업강좌, 벤처투자설명회, 창조적 여성리더포럼, 여성벤처 연수단 해외파견 등을 통해 여성 벤처업계의 발전을 선도해 왔다. 현재 'Go to the Future'라는 비전 아래 회원사들이 고부가가치형 신기술을 개발하고 판로를 적극적으로 개척할 수 있도록 지원하는 데 주력하고 있다.

 

The Korea Women Inventors Association

The Korea Women Inventors Association(Chairwoman Mi-Young HAN, photo) was established by highly motivated women inventors of the nation. It has provided women with information about invention, and inspire them with a sense of challenges through presentations on successful cases of invention by women, prize contests of ideas for invention, and competition and exhibition of products invented by women.

The Association has also contributed to fostering women inventors through training programs. By launching a house organ 'The Inventors' in 2002, it has encouraged and publicized activities of women inventors.

한국여성발명협회

한국여성발명협회(회장 한미영·사진)는 1993년 뜻있는 여성 발명가들에 의해 설립됐다. 여성 발명 우수사례 발표회, 여성 발명 아이디어 현상 공모대회, 여성 발명 경진대회, 여성 발명품 박람회 등을 통해 여성들에게 발명에 대한 정보를 제공하고 도전의식을 심어주었다.

2002년부터는 발명 정보지 '발명하는 사람들'을 창간해 여성 발명가들의 활동을 알리고, 이를 격려하는 데에 앞장서고 있다. 

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