Youngone wins WCD Emerging Leadership Award

South Korea's leading apparel and textile manufacturer, Youngone Corporation, has been recognised at the 2025 Women Corporate Directors (WCD) Visionary Awards for its initiatives to advance gender diversity and inclusion.

Organised by WCD, the world's largest network of women corporate board members, the awards celebrate companies and leaders that excel in governance, performance, and diversity practices, reports the Korean Herald.

Youngone was honoured in the Emerging Leadership category, marking the first time a Korean company has received the honour.

"I am truly honoured to accept this award on behalf of Youngone at such a prestigious event," Youngone Chair Sung Ki-hak said during his acceptance speech.

"I extend my deepest gratitude to all the dedicated women in our company who have contributed to our continuous growth and success," Sung said.

"Providing equal opportunities for women has ultimately made our company stronger and helped us outperform others. Together, let us continue to build a better world — one where women and men alike are equally respected, valued and empowered," he added.

The recognition reflects Youngone's long-standing commitment to inclusive leadership. According to the company, women make up 70% of all employees and nearly 60% of department head-level managers at its Seoul headquarters. It also reported that the average tenure of female employees exceeds that of their male counterparts by 1.5 years.

In its overseas operations, especially in Bangladesh, Youngone has significantly expanded women's employment since entering the market in the 1980s, contributing to greater economic and social empowerment for women.

Michelle Wardian, president of Youngone Americas, emphasised the company's ongoing focus on equitable talent development and evaluation. "We will further strengthen our inclusive culture to ensure these efforts contribute to our long-term competitiveness," she said.