Korea's top 10 construction companies have undergone a harsh "executive diet" over the past 10 years. They reduced their number of executives, which had been close to 700, by about 25%. The number of female executives rose to 19 this year, a notable increase. But the share of women among all executives remains minimal, indicating that the "glass ceiling" in the construction sector is still firmly in place.
According to the construction industry on the 29th, the number of executives at the top 10 construction companies by construction capability evaluation for 2025 stands at 526 this year (based on the latest personnel changes). This figure counts executives at senior managing director level (official) and above, excluding outside directors. At the end of 2016, the top 10 builders had 688 executives. That is a decrease of 23.5% (162 people) over 10 years.
DL E&C cut the most executives over the 10 years. It reduced its executives from 92 to 38, down 58.7% (54 people). After the petrochemical division was split off in 2020 (DL Chemical), the number of executives fell sharply, and in the same year, the introduction of a "person-in-charge" rank between Director General level and executive led to a significant decrease in executives.
GS Engineering and Construction also reduced its executives during the same period from 56 to 37, by about one-third (19 people). Hyundai E&C cut its executives from 108 to 80, down 20.3% (22 people).
Among the top 10 builders, Daewoo E&C was the only one to increase its executive count. The company's executives rose from 51 a decade ago to 67 now. Daewoo E&C said the number increased after the senior managing director candidate rank was eliminated in 2023 and everyone was changed to senior managing director.
The number of female executives, once rare in the construction industry, is now 19. The number of women, which was only three a decade ago, has risen more than sixfold. Still, their share among all executives is only 3.6%. Analysts say it remains difficult for women to gain a foothold because of the entrenched perception that construction is a "man's domain." The share of female employees at major builders is also around 10%, little changed from 10 years ago.
A representative at a major builder said, "The number of female employees at construction companies has increased recently, but there has been no dramatic change," adding, "Because the work is field-centered, often accompanied by physical labor and group lodging, it seems to be perceived, by social norms, as an area difficult for women to access."
Samsung C&T, the industry's No. 1, has the most female executives among the top 10 builders. The number rose from one a decade ago to five now. They include Vice President Cho Hye-jung (head of DxP headquarters), the only female vice president among the top 10 builders, as well as Managing Director Ji So-young (head of the H&B platform business team), Managing Director Park In-suk (head of the remodeling team), Managing Director Hyeong Si-won (head of the DxP business strategy team), and Managing Director Lee Hyun-a (executive in charge of the management support office).
DL E&C has three female executives: Managing Director Lee Jeong-eun (head of the D-IC office), Managing Director Kim Hwa-young (in charge of the housing business division), and Managing Director Park Seung-mi (in charge of the D-IC office).
Hyundai E&C, HDC Hyundai Development Company, and SK ecoplant each have two female executives. At Hyundai E&C, they are Managing Director Park In-ju (head of the budget management office) and Managing Director Ahn Gye-hyeon (head of the base technology research office). At HDC Hyundai Development Company, they are Managing Director Yoon Bo-eun (head of the legal team) and Managing Director Lee Jeong-eun (head of the product strategy team). At SK ecoplant, they are Managing Director Song Su-yeon (in charge of environmental business) and Managing Director Lee Hwa-mi (in charge of quality).
A female executive at a major builder said, "It is true that working in field positions and relocating every few years to posts where you have to live and work on-site is not easy," adding, "Still, the number of female executives has increased quite a bit, and there are more women in managerial roles in operations than before."