For Suzie Kim, a career in maritime wasn’t just a choice – it was something that felt natural. Growing up in Busan, South Korea’s busiest port city, she would watch massive container ships come and go, fascinated by their scale and purpose. That curiosity led her to study Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering and eventually step into the world of ship surveying.
“When I was about to graduate, I carefully considered the career path I wanted to take,” Suzie recalls. “I knew I wanted a role that would give me a comprehensive understanding of ships, and becoming a field surveyor was the perfect fit.” Now, as a trainee surveyor, she finds the hands-on experience even more rewarding than she had anticipated, with each inspection presenting new learning opportunities.
Stepping into a male-dominated industry hasn’t always been easy. “Most of the colleagues, clients, and workers I meet at shipyards are men,” Suzie explains. “Sometimes, I can tell that people are surprised to see me in this role. But I’ve realised that the best way to handle that is just to focus on doing my job well.”
One early experience highlighted the small but significant ways the industry is still adjusting to more women joining the field. “When I was training at a shipyard, there were no dedicated shower facilities for female surveyors,” she recalls. “It wasn’t summer, so I managed, but it definitely made me realise that some things still need to change. The good part was that the shipyard recognised this issue and actually started building new facilities.”
Suzie is encouraged to see more women entering classification societies in Korea and hopes that number will continue to grow. For those considering a similar path, she believes that strong communication skills and adaptability are just as important as technical knowledge. “When you’re new, talking to experienced colleagues or clients can feel intimidating,” she admits. “But learning how to express yourself clearly and confidently makes a huge difference.”
She also emphasises the importance of being yourself. “At first, I thought I had to act a certain way to fit in,” she says. “But that just made things harder. Once I stopped worrying about that and just focused on doing my job, I found it was much easier to build relationships and gain respect.”
Suzie firmly believes that having more women in leadership roles will strengthen the maritime industry. “When teams have leaders from different backgrounds – whether it’s gender, age, or nationality – it creates a better working environment for everyone. People learn from each other, and that’s how we move forward.”
She’s optimistic about the future and would encourage others to consider surveying as a career – both women and men. “Women are still a minority in this field, and that can be tough,” she says. “But things are changing. The more we create opportunities for female and younger surveyors to grow, the better the industry will be for everyone.”
