KT promotes 5 females to executive

By Kim Yoo-chul

KT is taking initiatives to break the so-called glass ceiling for women in the private sector by promoting five female managers to executive posts.

KT, led by CEO and Chairman Lee Suk-chai, said Sunday that it promoted 17 senior managers to new executives.

Of the total, five or 30 percent were women. The promotion sent the total number of female executives to 13 from the previous eight.

``Field experience was the top criteria in this year’s reshuffle for low-ranking executives. Also, KT wanted to change a male dominated corporate culture by giving more authorities to qualified female officials,’’ the company said in a statement.

The promotion comes after the Bundang, Gyeonggi Province-based outfit previously promoted former presidential secretary for overseas communications Kim Eun-hye to the head of its public relations office. It also promoted Oh Se-hyun and Lim Soo-kyung as senior executives at its global and enterprise division.

Giving more authority to women has emerged as the new trend in the local telecom sector.

The smallest carrier LG Uplus recently promoted Baek Young-ran as an executive, while market leader SK Telecom has given Park Hye-ran to manage its brand strategies by giving an executive as her official title.