Meet the Team: Minjy Lee, PhD, Junior Geotechnical Engineer | OWC South Korea
At OWC, our teams are constantly expanding into more locations, in expertise, and in sectors of influence. Our people are at the heart of what we do, and we invite you to get to know our team members so you can meet the energy behind change.
With South Korea accelerating its offshore wind ambitions, geotechnical engineering is helping lay the foundations for a cleaner energy future. We caught up with Minjy Lee, Geotechnical Engineer at OWC South Korea, to learn more about her career journey, what inspires her work, and how geoscience can support the rapid and responsible growth of offshore wind in the region.
- Name: Minjy Lee, PhD
- Title: Junior Geotechnical Engineer
- Office: Seoul, South Korea
- Hobbies: Cooking has recently become one of my favorite hobbies. It gives me a chance to step away from geotechnical engineering and fully immerse myself in a different kind of focus.
- Favourite movie: “Matilda” from 1996. This is a story about a gifted young girl who uses her extraordinary powers to stand up against injustice and find true happiness with a loving family. I like this movie because, despite her hopeless circumstances, Matilda overcomes her challenges, finds a family that truly loves her, and never loses her hopeful and fearless spirit. Even though she is very young, her attitude inspires and encourages me.
Give us a glimpse into your day-to-day life at OWC. What keeps you on your toes?
I spend my days interpreting site investigation data and applying engineering judgement to derive geotechnical design parameters for projects. My work includes preparing Geotechnical Interpretative Reports (GIRs) and carrying out analyses such as Leg Penetration Assessments for jack-up vessels. These assessments help estimate foundation capacity and soil resistance, providing essential input for the design of offshore structures.
Although I have not yet had the opportunity to work on many projects, each one has been a valuable learning experience. At first, I found it challenging to develop my own interpretations and select appropriate design parameters. However, the support and mentoring from the Geo team have helped me build both my technical knowledge and confidence. Every project presents unique challenges, so there is always something new to learn, and it has been incredibly rewarding to see how much I’ve grown as an engineer. I’ve also found that staying busy is one of my biggest sources of motivation. Working on different tasks and challenges keeps me engaged, energised, and excited to keep learning.
What drew you to the industry and what keeps you passionate about it?
My interest in geotechnical engineering began while I was studying Civil and Environmental Engineering at university. I was fascinated by how complex soil behaviour is and how many factors need to be considered to understand and characterise it.
That curiosity motivated me to continue my studies through both a master’s and a PhD, where I carried out laboratory testing and numerical analyses. The more I learned, the more I realised there was still so much to study, which has kept me motivated throughout my career.
Today, I find it especially rewarding to apply geotechnical engineering to offshore wind, one of the key renewable energy sources for the future. Understanding the interaction between the ground and offshore structures is both technically challenging and meaningful, and knowing that there is always more to learn continues to fuel my passion for the industry.
Can you tell us about something exciting you are working on right now?
Before joining OWC, I mainly used Geotechnical Interpretative Reports as an input for foundation design by evaluating soil resistance. Since joining OWC, I have had the opportunity to prepare these reports myself, which has given me a much deeper understanding of the entire geotechnical engineering process behind offshore wind projects.
What role can geoscience play in helping South Korea achieve its renewable energy goals?
Geotechnical engineering plays a vital role in both the safety and cost-effectiveness of offshore wind development.
High-quality site investigations and reliable geotechnical design help optimise foundation solutions, reduce geotechnical hazard risks, and improve the efficiency of offshore wind projects. I also believe that building a comprehensive database of offshore soil conditions and selecting representative soil models at each province for design will support faster and more efficient offshore wind development in South Korea.
Beyond the work, what makes you tick outside of the office?
As I mentioned earlier, cooking has become one of my favorite hobbies recently. And I also enjoy watching movies or TV series to relax and switch off after work. Taking time to recharge helps me return to work with a fresh perspective.
Geoscience consultancy for offshore wind ambitions in South Korea
Speak with our geoscience team in South Korea to discover how our geotechnical engineering solutions help de-risk and optimise offshore wind design to accelerate offshore wind development in South Korea.