Gyeong Yeonbong

A Korean entrepreneur who built South Korea's first women-owned conglomerate in the post-war era

Gyeong Yeonbong (1918-2005) shattered gender barriers in Korea's business world by founding the Gyeong Group in 1954 - the first major conglomerate (chaebol) owned and led by a woman. Starting with a small textile factory employing war widows, she expanded into construction and finance through innovative strategies like cross-industry partnerships. At her peak in the 1960s, her companies employed over 10,000 workers and accounted for 2% of South Korea's GDP.

Her business philosophy emphasized social responsibility, including building low-cost housing for employees and funding education programs. Despite facing discrimination from male-dominated banks, she secured loans through her network of female business partners. Her 1972 autobiography Threads of Strength details her struggles and strategies. Though her company faced financial difficulties in the 1980s, her legacy inspired later female entrepreneurs like Choi Seung-hee. Modern scholars recognize her as a pioneer in corporate social responsibility practices.