PM-ing in Korea

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, ...