Hong Suk Ja, a graduate regarding the Boston College Department of Governmental Technology into the 1958, assisted perform a platform to possess women’s liberties from inside the Southern area Korea. Their work getting gender equality affected Korean area and you may contributed to altering brand new stereotypes regarding the ladies in South Korea in second half the newest twentieth century.
She are recognized as a sensible college student and that provided ventures when you look at the studies, which have been uncommon getting Korean feminine at that time. In her youth, Hong desired to end up being a beneficial diplomat. Their particular ambition recommended her to study more challenging, particularly languages eg English and you may French. Possibly the Korean Combat anywhere between 1950 and you can 1953 couldn’t stop her passion for study. She registered this new Dongguk College or university Institution off Governmental Technology and you will Diplomacy because an student student and you can finished during the 1955. She is the actual only real female pupil throughout the program. Just after graduation, she decided to studies during the scholar college away from Ewha Womans University, where during the 1956 she is actually the original student to receive a great Master’s degree during the government and you can diplomacy .
This means that, she decided to go to Boston within the August 1956, and you will acquired the second Master’s degree in the governmental science from the Boston University for the 1958
After she complete their own studies at Ewha Womans College, Hong planned to study in the united states. They looked preposterous because just individuals of the brand new blessed category you may enjoys opportunities to research abroad regarding mid-twentieth-century. But really, Rev. Hwang Seongsu, who’d analyzed worldwide government at Columbia University and you may came across Hong at the Political Diplomacy Studies Classification that he organized inside Busan throughout the latest Korean Conflict, pretty sure Dr. Edwin Wright, who was simply of Massachusetts but temporarily remaining in Korea, one to Hong should data in america. Dr. Wright guaranteed funding for Hong’s graduate research during the Boston College or university. She along with hitched Jeon Juhwa, a unique Korean around the globe student who had been residing in Boston if you find yourself he learned drug .
While the day reached for Hong giving birth so you can her earliest young man, Jeon Inbeom (today the latest Deputy Frontrunner of First Republic out of Korea Military Command), she returned to Southern area Korea . Once their beginning from inside the December 1958, she found become an assistant into the minister out-of foreign items . Yet , within a-year, Hong and Jeon Seongsuk have been designated due to the fact first feminine Korean diplomats. First, Hong has worked regarding the method workplace, translating English so you’re able to Korean with the spouse out of minister off foreign situations while the she had the wives regarding ambassadors of overseas regions.
During the 1962, Hong decided to go to New york because an excellent Carnegie Fellow during the Columbia University thanks to a program to train diplomats of development places. Her Give in Denmark brides re-contact with American neighborhood brought about her to see Korean area in another way. She turned an advocate for women’s liberties, and slammed Korean norms that demanded ladies survival. Since the an expression out-of their own the versatility out of particularly conditions, Hong concluded their particular relationships .
Within the 1965, a couple of years just after back again to Korea, Hong is designated while the a good vice-consul to the Consulate General of one’s Republis out-of Korea within the Nyc. It had been a startling meeting since she try the first feminine diplomat to the office during the Consulate therefore attracted enough notice that Korean click covered the storyline. Inside Ny, she has worked because the an effective diplomat and now have first started concentrating on a great doctorate regarding The fresh University getting Societal Search. A general change in activities averted their unique of completing the degree during the Ny, but Hong in the course of time acquired her Ph.D. out of Dongguk University during the 1975.
Hong came to be for the July twenty-five, 1933 when you look at the Seoul
Regardless if Hong got a lot of time aspired become a beneficial diplomat, she made a decision to prevent their particular work within the 1971 and you may began to work with women’s liberties when you look at the Korea. This was mainly because she is actually troubled because of the discrimination against women during the Korean society, an event one to she discovered profoundly alienating when you are being employed as an effective diplomat .