Purpose: This study aimed to explore the nursing management experience of Korean nurse managers during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Methods: This exploratory qualitative study used individual semi-structured interviews. Data were collected from 10 nurse managers working in tertiary general hospitals in Korea from October 2020 to September 2021. Thematic analysis methods were employed to analyze interview transcripts. Results: The following four themes were derived: difficulty due to an unexpected and sudden disaster, being the center with a sense of calling and responding resolutely, gratitude toward health workers who work and endure together, and striving and rising to the challenge of preparing for future infection. Conclusion During the COVID-19 pandemic, Korean nurse managers made an effort to overcome the crisis based on the sense of calling, despite many changes and challenges. Furthermore, managers expressed their gratitude to the department members working together, and they confirmed the need for system improvement to prepare for upcoming epidemics.