Do Work–Life Balance Climates Constrain Leadership Aspirations? Gender and Career Values in Korea’s Accounting Profession

This study explores how work–life balance (WLB)-supportive organizational climates influence leadership aspirations in South Korea’s male-dominated accounting profession. Drawing on Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT) and supported by Goal Congruity and Person–Organization Fit perspectives, we examine how gender norms and personal career values shape reactions to WLB-supportive climates. Survey data from 1,000 accountants were analyzed to test the direct effect of WLB-supportive climates, the moderating role of WLB importance, and a three-way interaction with gender. WLB-supportive climates were negatively related to leadership aspiration, reflecting entrenched ideal-worker norms. However, this effect was moderated by WLB importance: employees who highly valued balance reported stronger leadership aspirations in supportive climates, whereas those who did not value balance showed lower aspirations. The gender interaction was nonsignificant, suggesting convergence in how men and women interpret WLB climates. Findings clarify SCCT’s boundary conditions and highlight implications for inclusive leadership development.