2025 Women Leaders Forum: Women Leading the Great Transformation

The 2025 Women Leaders Forum, hosted by Asia Economy, was held in grand style on November 6 at the Crystal Ballroom of the Lotte Hotel in Seoul. Under the inspiring theme “Women Leading the Great Transformation,” the forum gathered distinguished female leaders, policymakers, and professionals from various sectors to discuss the roles of women in shaping the future of society, economy, and governance.

The event opened with a welcoming address by Mr. Jang Beom-sik, CEO of Asia Economy, who emphasized the importance of inclusive leadership and the power of women to drive innovation and change.
The keynote speech was delivered by H.E. Anne Kari Hansen Ovind, Ambassador of Norway to the Republic of Korea, on the topic “Beyond the Wave of Transformation: Norway’s Inclusive Leadership for a Sustainable Future.”
Ambassador Ovind shared Norway’s experiences in fostering gender equality and sustainability, highlighting the increasing participation of women in business, education, and government leadership. Her address inspired the audience with Norway’s model of progressive governance, where inclusivity and equality are seen as key pillars of national success.

Following the keynote, the forum proceeded with a series of thought-provoking sessions divided into three themes.

Session 1: Leadership in Transformation – What Kind of Leadership Does Korea Need Today?
Featured prominent speakers including Prof. Myung Hee Yoo, Visiting Professor at Seoul National University Graduate School of International Studies; Prof. Soo Hyun Ahn, Dean of the School of Law at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies; and Hyun Nam Park, Country Representative of Deutsche Bank Korea.
The session was moderated by Dr. Bok Sil Lee, Deputy Director of the National Management Research Institute, who guided an engaging discussion on leadership values in a time of rapid global change.

The next part, Power K-Women: The Driving Forces That Changed My Life, was led by Sohn Yi-cheon, Executive Director of Key Auction.
Inspirational figures such as Dr. Min Sun Kim from the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology, drama writer Mi Kyung Baek, author Sun Kyung Yoo, and voice actress Kyung Yi Cho shared their personal stories of challenge and success, offering heartfelt reflections on the inner strength and determination that shaped their careers.

In the afternoon, Sessions 2 and 3 continued the dialogue with in-depth discussions on topics such as women’s leadership in the digital era, sustainable innovation, and the future of gender equality in business and governance.
Experts from diverse fields provided valuable perspectives, making the forum a rich platform for networking and knowledge exchange among women leaders across industries.

The 2025 Women Leaders Forum successfully highlighted the vision, courage, and influence of women who are transforming Korea and the world.
As the participants left the venue inspired and motivated, one message resonated clearly—
women are not merely part of the transformation; they are the driving force behind it.