LIMITED POWER OF ATTORNEY FOR
                        SECTION 16 REPORTING OBLIGATIONS

           The undersigned makes, constitutes and appoints each of David C.
Horn, Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, Roger K. Newport,
Controller and Rebecca H. Appenzeller, Corporate Counsel and Assistant
Secretary, each acting individually, as the undersigned's true and lawful
attorney-in-fact, with full power and authority on behalf of and in the name,
place and stead of the undersigned to:

           (1) prepare, execute, acknowledge, deliver and file with the United
States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") Forms 3, 4, and 5
(including any amendments thereto) with respect to the securities of AK Steel
Holding Corporation (the "Company") in accordance with Section 16(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder (the "Exchange Act");

           (2) seek or obtain, as the undersigned's representative and on the
undersigned's behalf, information concerning the undersigned's transactions in
the Company's securities from any third party, including brokers, employee
benefit plan administrators and trustees, and

           (3) to do and perform any and all other acts for and on behalf of the
undersigned which may be necessary or desirable to complete and execute such
Form 3, 4 or 5 and timely file such form with the SEC and any national
securities exchange or similar authority.

           The undersigned acknowledges and agrees that:

           (1) this Power of Attorney authorizes, but does not require, each of
the foregoing attorneys-in-fact to act in his or her discretion on information
provided to such attorneys-in-fact without independent verification of such
information;

           (2) any documents prepared and/or executed by any such
attorney-in-fact on behalf of the undersigned pursuant to this Power of Attorney
will be in such form and will contain such information and disclosure as the
attorney-in-fact, in his or her discretion, deems necessary or desirable;

           (3) neither the Company nor the attorney-in-fact assume (i) any
liability for the undersigned's responsibility to comply with the requirement of
the Exchange Act, (ii) any liability of the undersigned for any failure to
comply with such requirements, or (iii) any obligation or liability of the
undersigned for profit disgorgement under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act; and

           (4) this Power of Attorney does not relieve the undersigned from
responsibility for compliance with the undersigned's obligations under the
Exchange Act, including without limitation the reporting requirements under
Section 16 of the Exchange Act; and

           (5) the undersigned hereby authorizes any third party, including
brokers, employee benefit plan administrators and trustees, with information
concerning the undersigned's transactions in the Company's securities to release
such information to any of the foregoing attorneys-in-fact for the purpose of
enabling such attorney-in-fact to prepare, execute, acknowledge, deliver and/or
file a Form 3, 4 or 5 (including any amendments thereto) with the SEC on behalf
of the undersigned, and approves and ratifies any such release of information.


           The undersigned hereby further gives and grants each of the foregoing
attorneys-in-fact full power and authority to do and perform all and every act
and thing whatsoever requisite, necessary or appropriate to be done in and about
the foregoing matters as fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned
might or could do if present, hereby ratifying all that each such
attorney-in-fact of, for and on behalf of the undersigned, shall lawfully do or
cause to be done by virtue of this Power of Attorney.

           This Power of Attorney shall remain in full force and effect until
the undersigned is no longer required to file Form 3, 4 and 5 with respect to
the Company's securities, unless earlier revoked by the undersigned in a signed
writing delivered to each of the foregoing attorneys-in-fact.

           IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Power of Attorney
to be executed as of this 15th day of January, 2004.


                                   /s/Shirley D. Peterson
                                   ----------------------------------
                                   Signature


                                   Shirley D. Peterson
                                   ----------------------------------
                                   Print Name



STATE OF OHIO       )
                    )
COUNTY OF HAMILTON  )

           On this 15th day of January, 2004, the forgoing signatory personally
appeared before me, and acknowledged that he/she executed the foregoing
instrument for the purposes therein contained.

           IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and official seal.


                                   /s/ David C. Horn
                                   ----------------------------------
                                   Notary Public

                                   My Commission Has No Expiration Date