Eun Jung Lee’s career journey

From coordinator to instructor

Eun Jung Lee joined us in 2008 – without really knowing much about Kongsberg Maritime at the time. Today, more than a decade later, she works as an instructor at the South Korea Training Center, delivering technical courses to external customers. Her career path shows how experience, curiosity, and support from colleagues can open new opportunities – even when your background is not technical. 

  • Text:Christine Oulie

    Photo: Thale Haneferd

Starting out – and finding her way 

Eun Jung holds a degree in English literature and international trade and initially applied for a coordinator position because it was an international company where she could use her language skills. As a coordinator she worked closely with service requests and warranty cases, supporting spare parts and invoicing processes, and collaborating with the training centre. 

A woman smiling in front of a building

“It was tough in the beginning. I was young, inexperienced, and the workload could be quite heavy. Sometimes there were calls or emails even during holidays and weekends,” she says. “But it also helped me develop a lot.”

What made the difference, she emphasizes, was the people around her. “Whenever I had questions – technical or administrative – there was always someone willing to help. That support meant everything.” 

Although her education was not technical, Eun Jung gradually built strong system knowledge through daily work, collaboration with engineers, and internal training. 

“I always tried to understand why a technical solution was given to a customer,” she explains. “I took notes, asked engineers to explain, and built my own knowledge over time.” Through her coordinator role, she also gained a solid understanding of customer challenges – something that later became an advantage when she moved into training.

Taking a leap and stepping into a new role 

After more than ten years as a coordinator, Eun Jung began to feel a need for change. “Even though I had a lot of experience, I wanted to develop myself more on the technical side,” she says.  

Her manager, Ho Sub Hwang, General Manager for Customer Support & Aftermarket Sales, had noticed the same drive.  

“Eun Jung had been with us for more than ten years as a coordinator, and during that time she consistently showed curiosity and interest in the technical aspects of the work. She had often expressed a wish to develop in a more technical direction, and she showed that interest through how she worked and studied. Combined with her experience in the organization and her background in teaching, I felt she was a good fit for the instructor role,” he says.

He encouraged her to apply – even though she initially doubted herself. “I thought maybe I wasn’t qualified enough, because I don’t have a technical degree,” she admits. “But my manager said: I know how you work. You can do this.” 

Becoming an instructor 

Before officially stepping into the instructor role, she spent around eight months training. She studied systems, simulations and course materials, and took part in hands-on training such as factory acceptance testing (FAT) and onboard training. 

“I studied a lot – both on my own and with help from colleagues,” she says. “No one ever says you don’t need to learn this. People share knowledge openly.” 

That combination of structured training and informal support helped her build confidence ahead of delivering her first courses.

When she finally stepped into the classroom, the transition felt natural. Eun Jung officially started delivering courses as an instructor last year. Today, she mainly teaches K-Chief 700, an automation system for vessel control and monitoring, Step 1 courses, while also training to deliver courses for newer automation systems

“What I really like about this role is that I can use my experience from being a coordinator,” she says. “I understand where operators struggle, because I used to handle their questions and issues as a coordinator.” That background helps her explain technical concepts in a practical and relatable way during training.  

So after so many years, what made you stay in the company? 


“The people – and the culture,” she answers without hesitation. 

She has experienced a demanding workday, particularly in her earlier years as a coordinator, when the pace could be intense and work sometimes extended beyond normal hours. At the same time, she highlights how colleagues and managers tried to take care of people’s time. 

“In South Korea, it’s not always common to experience this kind of openness or work–life balance,” she says. “But here, people really try.” 

One specific situation has stayed with her. Late one evening, a technical issue came in that still needed to be resolved. 

“An engineer looked at it and simply said: This is technical – I’ll take it. You can go home,” Eun Jung recalls. “That kind of behaviour stays with you. It shows trust, care and respect – not just for the work, but for the person.” 

Another experience that stayed with her comes from meeting colleagues who were navigating similar transitions. At a coordinator workshop in Poland, she met a coordinator from Mexico, and their conversations about the demands of the role later came full circle when they met again during instructor training. 

“He had taken the same journey as me – from coordinator to instructor,” Eun Jung says. “It was interesting to see that people arrive in the same role through very different paths, and that everyone brings their own experience with them.” 

Advice to others considering a change 

Looking back, Eun Jung believes communication with her managers has been key. 

“You need to express what you want, what you’re interested in, and where you want to develop,” she says. “Something that seems impossible can turn out to be possible.” 

Her own journey is proof of that. “I never imagined becoming an instructor when I started,” she says. “But with experience, support, and a willingness to learn, it became reality.”