PM-ing in Korea

If you're a PO, chances are… you're a little bit greedy. Not for power or credit — but for ownership. For the thrill of solving meaningful problems. That’s why top-down tasks often trigger a quiet rebellion inside us. Maybe it’s just in our nature. But when something lands on our plate from the top — with no context, no discussion — our minds immediately shift into critical mode. We analyze harder. We focus more on what could go wrong. And then we drag ourselves to the team like we’ve been sentenced to carry out a mission we didn’t sign up for.

Agile methodologies promise flexibility, speed, and adaptability , but how well do they actually work in Korea’s unique corporate culture? Korean work environments are built on hierarchical structures, top-down decision-making, and a deep respect for authority —all of which often clash with Agile’s core principles of self-organization and continuous iteration . I do not speak for every single company in Korea, but I am certain that most of them are like this. In this post, I’ll break down what Agile actually looks like in Korea , how traditional work culture affects its adoption , and what happens when Agile meets hierarchy . 1. Hierarchy vs. Agile Decision-Making Agile emphasizes: Decentralized decision-making Cross-functional teams that self-organize Rapid iteration & continuous learning Korean corporate culture emphasizes: Top-down decision-making Approval required at every step Executives making final calls on product direction Re...

The once-blurred lines between these roles are slowly becoming clearer. In Korea’s tech industry , job titles like Service Planner (서비스 기획자), Product Manager (PM), and Product Owner (PO) are often used interchangeably . This has created confusion—not just for job seekers but also for companies struggling to define these roles properly. But things are changing.  Some PMs are still limited to service planner roles , while some service planners are taking on PO-level responsibilities without the right compensation. But more tech companies are now distinguishing these positions , bringing structure to an industry that has long operated in ambiguity. So, what’s causing this shift? Let’s break it down. The Current State of Confusion Many Korean companies still don’t fully separate these roles , leading to job descriptions that mix responsibilities across all three positions. It’s common to see: A company hiring a "Product Owner" but expecting them to do Produc...

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, ...