Hong Suk Ja: Pursuing Feminine’s Rights inside the Southern Korea

Hong Suk Ja, a graduate about Boston College or university Service out of Governmental Research within the 1958, assisted manage a deck to own ladies’ legal rights in South Korea. Their particular efforts to have gender equality affected Korean area and you will resulted in modifying the newest stereotypes on the ladies in Southern area Korea within the next half the fresh twentieth-century.

She try seen as a sensible college student and this given opportunities during the knowledge, that have been rare to have Korean women at that time. In her teens, Hong planned to be a beneficial diplomat. Their unique aspiration recommended their own to review more difficult, especially languages like English and you can French. Even the Korean Battle ranging from 1950 and you will 1953 couldn’t stop their unique love of analysis. She entered brand new Dongguk College or university Agency out of Political Research and Diplomacy since the an enthusiastic student student and you may finished during the 1955. She try really the only women pupil regarding system. Shortly after graduation, she made a decision to analysis from the graduate school away from Ewha Womans University, in which for the 1956 she is the initial beginner for a good Master’s knowledge from inside the politics and you can diplomacy .

Thus, she went along to Boston during the August 1956, and attained a second Master’s degree in political research at Boston College for the 1958

Immediately following she accomplished their own investigation at Ewha Womans University, Hong wished to analysis in america. It appeared preposterous once the just folks of the latest blessed class you will definitely keeps possibilities to research abroad regarding the mid-twentieth-century. Yet, Rev. Hwang Seongsu, who had analyzed worldwide politics at the Columbia College and you may satisfied Hong during the Governmental Diplomacy Study Group which he organized inside Busan throughout new Korean Battle, sure Dr. Edwin Wright, who was simply out-of Massachusetts however, temporarily residing in Korea, one Hong is studies in the usa. Dr. Wright guaranteed resource getting Hong’s graduate study in the Boston College or university. She together with hitched Jeon Juhwa, an alternative Korean around the globe scholar have been located in Boston if you are the guy analyzed drug .

As the time approached to possess Hong to offer delivery to help you their unique earliest child, Jeon Inbeom (now the fresh Deputy Commander of your Very first Republic out of Korea Military Command), she gone back to Southern Korea . Just after his beginning for the December 1958, she located act as an assistant into minister from international items . But really within this a year, Hong and you can Jeon Seongsuk was in fact appointed because the first female Korean diplomats. First, Hong spent some time working regarding process office, translating English so you can Korean toward wife from minister from overseas factors since the she had the wives away from ambassadors from international nations.

When you look at the 1962, Hong went to New york since the an excellent Carnegie Other at the Columbia College as a consequence of a course to practice diplomats out of developing countries. Their own lso are-exposure to Western community triggered their observe Korean society in another way. She became a suggest getting ladies’ rights, and criticized Korean norms that demanded ladies’ endurance. Because the a phrase from their particular new independence out-of including requirements, Hong ended their particular relationships .

When you look at the 1965, 2 years just after back into Korea, Hong try appointed just like the a good vice-consul to your Consulate General of one’s Republis out of Korea into the Nyc. It was a startling appointment as the she is actually the initial women diplomat to operate from the Consulate plus it lured sufficient desire you to definitely Korean press secure the story. When you look at the New york, she spent some time working once the a good diplomat while having began dealing with an effective doctorate on The University to have Social Search. A general change in affairs avoided her regarding finishing the amount from inside the Nyc, but Hong mГёte Thai enslige kvinner sooner attained their own Ph.D. regarding Dongguk School for the 1975.

Hong came into this world to the July 25, 1933 inside the Seoul

Even if Hong had much time aspired as a diplomat, she made a decision to stop their own jobs in the 1971 and you can started to work for ladies rights for the Korea. This was since these she try troubled because of the discrimination up against women within the Korean area, an occurrence you to she discover deeply alienating if you are being employed as a beneficial diplomat .