Name: [專訪] 女性領袖：韓國外交部長康京和（강경화 장관 英文專訪 - 女性領袖） ([Interview] Women Leaders: South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha (강경화 장관 영어 인터뷰 - 여성 리더))
Uploaded: 2025-11-19T12:10:34.000Z
Duration: 14 min 22 s

I hope someday come a time when being the first woman in anything isn't news anymore because it is so, so frequent.

我希望有一天，當上第一位女性不再是新聞，因為這件事會變得非常非常頻繁。

Foreign Minister, thank you so much for your time today.

外交部長，非常感謝您今天撥冗受訪。

to 不定詞

So you've done a lot of interviews, both as an interviewer and an interviewee, when it comes to humanitarian issues and other global affairs.

您在人道主義議題和其他全球事務上，進行過許多採訪，也接受過許多採訪。

But I'm hoping that today might be one of those few times we can lighten things up a little bit and get to know you a little bit more as a person and talk a little bit about your personal journey as a woman leader.

但我希望今天能是少數能稍微輕鬆一下的機會，讓我們更認識您這個人，也聊聊您身為一位女性領導者的個人歷程。

I wanted to begin with your passion for global affairs.

我想從您對全球事務的熱情開始聊起。

When did you first spark an interest in bridging cultures?

您是什麼時候開始對跨文化交流產生興趣的呢？

Well, I guess I always grew up very curious about the world outside my own country, other countries and other peoples.

嗯，我想我從小就對自己國家以外的世界、其他國家和其他人民充滿好奇。

And perhaps having a father who was a first generation broadcaster in this country who dealt with issues outside the country was part of that.

也許這跟我父親是國內第一代廣播人，處理過不少國外事務有關。

But then having an opportunity to go and study abroad certainly made me much more aware of the diversity that's there and how difficult, in fact, it is for that diversity to communicate and to find harmony in all of that.

但後來有機會出國唸書，確實讓我更清楚地認識到世界的多樣性，以及要讓這些多樣性找到和諧共處是多麼不容易。

So intercultural communication was what I majored in as my PhD program in graduate school, but

所以跨文化溝通是我在研究院博士班課程的主修，但

I really didn't think that I would have the opportunity to practice it as the country's top diplomat.

我真的沒想過會有機會在國家最高外交官的職位上實踐它。

Now, you've had a very diverse career background.

You started out as an English broadcaster here in Korea and later moved on to teaching at universities and then to public service.

您一開始是在韓國擔任英文廣播員，後來轉到大學任教，接著進入公共服務領域。

So how would you describe your approach when it comes to making those choices in your career path?

所以，您會怎麼形容您在做職涯道路選擇時的方法呢？

Well, first of all, I'm very grateful and happy with every bit of that diverse experience that I've had.

嗯，首先，我對我擁有的所有這些多元經驗都感到非常感激和開心。

It all comes together and is now part of my skill set in this current job.

它們都匯集在一起，成為我現在工作技能的一部分。

But in terms of making career choices, I always go for what is new, not what promotes me, but

但關於職涯選擇，我總是選擇新的事物，不是為了晉升，而是

what brings me new experiences and new challenges.

為了帶給我新的經驗和新的挑戰。

And that partly explains why my career path is so diverse, because instead of staying in one track and seeing myself grow and be promoted in that track when there was opportunity to move outside and do something new, that was the choice I always made.

這也部分解釋了為何我的職涯道路如此多元，因為我沒有停留在一個領域，看著自己在該領域成長和晉升，而是在有機會轉向並做些新事物時，我總是做了那個選擇。

You were often named the first woman of many things.

您常被稱為許多事務的「第一位女性」。

You were the first Korean woman to hold a high level position at the United Nations.

您是第一位在聯合國擔任高階職位的韓國女性。

And now you are our very first woman foreign minister of our country of South Korea.

而現在，您是我們南韓第一位女性外交部長。

Now, how do you feel whenever you get that title of Being the first woman woman, I've been wary of that title for a long, long time.

現在，當您獲得「第一位女性」這個頭銜時，您有什麼感覺？我對這個頭銜戒慎恐懼了很久很久。

I think I've had my share of being the first woman of anything.

我想我已經夠資格被稱為「第一位女性」了。

For a long time I've been hoping that many other women would share that title and many have.

長久以來，我一直希望有更多女性能共享這個頭銜，而且事實上也有許多人做到了。

I hope someday come a time when being the first woman in anything isn't news anymore because it is so frequent and I'm enormously honored.

我希望有一天，當「第一位女性」不再是新聞，因為這件事已經非常普遍，而我感到非常榮幸。

But I think we have to speed up that time when it isn't news anymore to be the first woman in anything.

但我認為我們必須加速這個時刻的到來，讓「第一位女性」不再是新聞。

And as a woman working in a lot of leadership positions, what's been your biggest obstacle?

身為一位在許多領導職位上工作的女性，您最大的阻礙是什麼？

I think in my generation, growing up in the 60s, 70s and trying to make it in any career track in the 80s and 90s and so far we've had to deal with first of all, deep seated women, discrimination against women that is very much part of our traditional culture.

我想在我成長的年代，也就是六〇、七〇年代，並在八〇、九〇年代試圖在任何職涯道路上有所成就時，我們必須先處理根深蒂固的歧視女性問題，這很大程度上是我們傳統文化的一部分。

But personally I grew up in a family of just daughters.

但就我個人而言，我成長於一個全是女兒的家庭。

I went to junior high school and high school of girls only.

So within that context I felt no discrimination.

所以在那個環境裡，我沒有感受到任何歧視。

But once you're in university and are faced with more men than women, it immediately hits that you are dealing with a very different kind of a human being, very different species.

但一旦進入大學，面對的男性比女性多時，你立刻就會意識到，你面對的是一種非常不同的人類，非常不同的物種。

But I think now after becoming a leader there is always this self doubt as can I do this?

但我認為現在，在我成為領導者之後，總是會有自我懷疑，我能做到嗎？

And you also have the suspicion that am I being discriminated against?

你也會懷疑自己是不是受到歧視？

Am I not getting what I deserve, not getting my decisions implemented because people are treating me as a woman.

是不是因為大家把我當女人看，所以我的付出沒有得到應有的回報，我的決定沒有被採納？

So it's that both your self doubt and your, and

所以，這既是你的自我懷疑，也是

that inhibition is something that I constantly have to remind myself as not to detract me too much.

我必須不斷提醒自己，不要讓這種阻礙影響我太多。

you sort of have to move beyond that and just deal with, you know, people at face value and just do your best.

你得超越這些，只是單純地、盡力地去面對大家，做好你該做的事。

Throughout your career, you've had a lot of opportunities to work with all these different types of leaders from all over the world.

在你的職涯中，你有許多機會與來自世界各地各種不同類型的領導者合作。

So based on your experience, how would you define good leadership?

根據你的經驗，你會如何定義好的領導力？

Yes, I've dealt with many leaders both inside the country and outside the country, but

是的，我曾與國內外的許多領導者共事，但

So I can't speak for the private sector, but

所以我無法評論私人企業，但我

I could simply sum them up into a couple of categories.

There are those who say serve me and those who say follow me and those who say work with me.

有那種說「伺候我」的，有那種說「跟著我」的，還有那種說「與我共事」的。

I think my style is follow me and work with me.

我認為我的風格是「跟著我」和「與我共事」。

但為了做到這一點，這其實很平凡。

But leading by example I think is Critical.

I think for the leadership to be effective, you have to win the trust and respect of your crowd, your staff that you are trying to lead.

我認為要讓領導力有效，你必須贏得你想要帶領的群眾、你的團隊的信任和尊重。

And you can't do that unless you have their respect and their trust.

而你必須贏得他們的尊重和信任，才能做到這一點。

And staff want a leader that they can be proud of.

員工們都希望有一位能讓他們感到驕傲的領導者。

They don't want a leader that they are ashamed of.

他們不希望有一位讓他們感到羞恥的領導者。

They have to find inspiration and motivation in the leader.

他們必須從領導者身上找到啟發和動力。

And I think that's best when you do it by saying follow me, but

我認為最好的方式就是說「跟著我」，但

being good at what you do, but also saying, work with me.

在你擅長的領域做得很好，同時也要說「與我共事」。

And I personally found that kind of leadership in bosses that I've worked with the best.

我個人覺得，在我共事過的這些主管身上，都展現了這種最棒的領導風格。

And speaking of inspiration, a lot of young women here in Korea look up to you as their role model in life.

說到啟發，韓國這裡的許多年輕女性都將您視為人生中的榜樣。

Now, I would love to know, did you have anyone that you looked up to as a role model when you were younger?

那，我真的很想知道，您年輕時有誰是您效仿的榜樣嗎？

Well, I think my own father, who nurtured me with unconditional love and trust and support.

嗯，我想是我的父親，他給予我無條件的愛、信任和支持。

And he's somebody who cared so much more for his staff than his boss.

他是一個非常關心部屬、勝過關心老闆的人。

And maybe that reflects my style of leadership as well.

這或許也反映了我自己的領導風格。

So growing up, it was definitely my father.

所以，在我成長過程中，毫無疑問是我的父親。

But once, once out of school, there are a couple of men and women that I found inspiration.

但一旦，一旦我離開學校，有幾位男性和女性讓我獲得啟發。

And I can name many, but just to name three.

我可以舉出很多位，但就舉三位來說。

Madam Lee Yeon Suk, who is retired now, but she was member of Parliament and minister, and

李蓮淑女士，她現在已經退休了，但她曾是國會議員和部長，

she was a woman leader, but always empowering of younger women leaders.

她是一位女性領導者，但總是樂於賦予年輕女性領導者力量。

when she decided you could use my support, she was fully supportive and very empowering.

當她決定我可以獲得她的支持時，她給予了全力支持且非常鼓勵我。

And I am still in great admiration of her.

President Kim Dae Jung, whom I worked very closely for for about three years.

金大中總統，我曾與他緊密合作了約三年。

A great listener with just immense wisdom and just knew how to engage with any interlocutor that came by.

他是一位很棒的傾聽者，擁有無比的智慧，並且知道如何與任何來訪者互動。

And just, you know, at the end of that conversation, everybody turning to be a fan.

在那次談話結束時，每個人都變成了她的粉絲。

And then I think Louise Arbor, who was the High Commissioner for Human Rights, who took me into the UN system and made me her deputy, and

然後我想是人權事務高級專員 Louise Arbor，她將我帶入聯合國體系並讓我擔任她的副手，

I worked with her for about a year and a half, and we're still in close touch.

我和她共事了一年半，至今仍保持密切聯繫。

But I have to say, she has the sharpest, most mind of anybody I know.

但我必須說，她擁有我認識的任何人中最敏銳、最聰明的頭腦。

She has the ability to penetrate any difficult issue and find logic in it and find a response to it.

她有能力深入探討任何棘手的議題，找出其中的邏輯並找到解決之道。

所以還有很多，但這只是其中幾位。

And here comes the more personal side of this interview.

接下來，我們來聊聊這個訪談比較個人的一面。

Aside from Being the top diplomat of our country, you're also a mother of three and a wife.

除了是我們國家的最高外交官，您也是三位孩子的母親和妻子。

So how do you feel about the balance between your personal and your professional life?

那您覺得在個人生活和職業生涯之間，您是如何取得平衡的呢？

Well, at this stage in life, I have the luxury of not having to care for my kids and family because they're all grown up.

嗯，在這個人生階段，我很幸運不用再操心孩子和家人，因為他們都已經長大了。

In fact, it's the other way they tend to take care of me than the other way around.

事實上，現在比較像是他們照顧我，而不是我照顧他們。

So I think now I think I use 95% of my time on work and perhaps 5%, usually on weekdays, enjoying the family.

所以我想，我現在有 95% 的時間投入工作，也許有 5% 的時間，通常在平日，會享受家庭時光。

But that proportion of time spent on work and family would be very different from for younger people, obviously with young kids.

但這份工作和家庭的時間分配比例，對有小孩的年輕人來說，顯然會很不一樣。

And you just need to find a way to balance that.

而您只需要找到方法來平衡這一切。