PM-ing in Korea

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Showing posts with the label Define Success

Can Success Be Defined?

When giving career advice, don’t project your own definition of success onto someone else. Instead, listen to how they define success and have a conversation from their perspective. Success can mean different things to different people. For some, it’s about how much money they make. For others, it’s about job titles, work-life balance, or the size of their professional network. I once met a headhunter while exploring recruitment as a career. He proudly showed me his contact list and said, “If you work with me, you’ll have this many people in your network too.” He even offered me a job, suggesting that I work for him instead of looking elsewhere. I turned it down because his definition of success wasn’t the same as mine.

Transitioning to a Product Owner in Korea (Closer to a Product Manager in the US)

At the start of every new year, people take a moment to reflect on the past. Looking back, 2022 wasn’t just another year for me—it was a turning point . It was the year I: 📌 Hit my mid-30s 📌 Became a parent 📌 Made a major career shift 📌 Started a new job as a Product Owner On a personal level, welcoming my child was by far the biggest blessing. But career-wise? Despite feeling “too late” to switch paths, I fully transitioned into a Product Owner role—and it was one of the best moves I’ve made. But before I get into how it happened, there’s something important to clear up about Product Management in Korea vs. the US . PO vs. PM in Korea – Why It’s Different 💡 If you’re used to the way Product Management works in the US, you might find Korea’s definitions confusing. In Korea: ✔ Product Owner (PO) = more like a Product Manager (PM) in the US ✔ Product Manager (PM) = more like a Product Owner (PO) in the US Why? 👉 The first major Korean company to adopt Agile accidentally switched th...

Toss: The Trendsetter Shaping Korea’s Tech Landscape

Toss: The Trendsetter Shaping Korea’s Tech Landscape In Korea’s fast-moving tech ecosystem, Toss has become a company that sets the standard. From its pioneering approach to product management to its unique UX writing philosophy , Toss has influenced how many Korean companies operate. But what makes Toss stand out isn’t just its financial services—it’s the way the company builds products, manages teams, and scales its business . Let’s break down how Toss is reshaping Korea’s tech industry . The Visionary Leadership of Lee Seung-gun At the center of Toss’s success is Lee Seung-gun , founder and CEO of Viva Republica (Toss’s parent company). His story is one of persistence and bold innovation . Before Toss, Lee experienced eight startup failures over six years before finally launching his ninth business idea , which became Korea’s first successful peer-to-peer money transfer service . A Global Vision for Toss As of February 2025 , Toss is aiming for foreign nationals ...

The Most Commonly Used Product Design Tools in Korea

When it comes to product design in Korea, one tool dominates the scene: Figma. While some teams still use Adobe XD or other alternatives, the industry is shifting toward tools that offer seamless collaboration, prototyping, and design workflows . But there’s a new player in town— Framer . In this post, we’ll break down the most commonly used product design tools in Korea, the emerging trends, and how product teams are adapting. Figma: The Industry Standard If you’re working in a Korean tech company, there’s a 90% chance your team is using Figma. Why? ✅ Cloud-based collaboration – No more file versioning nightmares ✅ Real-time co-editing – Designers, PMs, and engineers can work together ✅ Built-in prototyping – Many teams now use Figma for both UI/UX design and prototyping Figma has become the go-to tool for design teams looking for speed, flexibility, and team collaboration . 💡 Check out Figma here . Adobe XD: Slowly Fading Out At one point...

Service Planner, Product Manager, Product Owner: Different Yet Similar Roles in Korea

Service Planner, Product Manager, Product Owner: Different Yet Similar Roles If you’re working in Korea’s IT industry , you’ve probably come across three commonly used job titles: ✅ Service Planner (서비스 기획자) ✅ Product Manager (PM) ✅ Product Owner (PO) At first glance, these roles seem similar. They all involve product development, user needs, and decision-making . But in reality, each has unique responsibilities—and in Korea, these roles often function differently than they do in other countries. Today, I want to break down: What makes the Service Planner role unique to Korea How PM and PO roles differ globally vs. in Korea What these three roles have in common The Uniqueness of ‘Service Planner’ in Korea 💡 Is there an exact translation for ‘Service Planner’ in English? Not really. The Service Planner role evolved specifically within the Korean IT industry , and there isn’t a direct equivalent in Western markets like the US. Historically, ...