Celebrating 100 Years of English Literature at Ewha Womans University

On May 23, 2025, a celebratory event was held at the Ewha Womans University ECC Isambong Hall in Seoul to mark the 100th anniversary of the university's Department of English Language and Literature. Over 200 alumni gathered, ranging from seasoned graduates to those in their 20s and 30s. The atmosphere was electric as attendees cheered when someone shouted, 'Ewha English!' Nostalgic moments were shared as a large screen displayed photos from their student days and interviews with fellow alumni, prompting applause and joy reminiscent of their university years. One graduate in her 50s expressed pride in being part of a department with such a rich history.

The English Language and Literature Department at Ewha began on April 24, 1925, as part of the Ewha Womans College, which was established in 1886 by American missionary Mary Scranton. This year marks the 139th anniversary of the university, and it was the first time students were officially admitted in the current departmental format. The department is also recognized as the first English literature program established in South Korea.

Over the past century, the department has played a pivotal role in advancing women's higher education in Korea, producing approximately 10,000 undergraduate graduates and over 660 master's and doctoral graduates. In the 1970s and 1980s, it was the most sought-after program among female students. Many distinguished individuals have passed through its halls, contributing significantly to the field of English literature. Notable alumni include Na Young-kyun, the first female president of the Korean English Literature Association, and Seo Ji-moon, a professor at Korea University, who have both enhanced the status of English literature in Korea through their teaching and research.

The department has also produced numerous female leaders across various fields, including Lee Hee-ho, the late wife of former President Kim Dae-jung, and Yoon Jeong-ok, a co-founder of the Korean Council for the Women Drafted for Military Sexual Slavery by Japan. Although Yoon, who turned 100 this year, could not attend the event due to health reasons, her impact was felt. Jang Pil-hwa, chairperson of the Korean Women's Foundation and a 1974 graduate, noted the significant number of social leaders among the department's alumni, highlighting the influence of professors like Yoon Jeong-eun and Yoon Jeong-ok, who dedicated their lives to social causes.

Graduates of the department have set numerous 'firsts' for Korean women, including the first female president of the Korean Red Cross (Yoo Jung-geun, 1967), the first Korean woman to serve as Deputy Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor (Jeon Sin-ae, 1965), and the first female director of the National Theater of Korea (Shin Sun-hee, 1968). Kim Young-ki, an honorary professor at George Washington University who taught Korean studies in the U.S. for 50 years, remarked on the department's emphasis on globalization, which allowed students to dream bigger than their peers at other institutions.

Notable alumni also include Kim Moon-hee, the mother of Hyundai Group Chairman Chung Mong-koo, and Lee Joo-young, a senior advisor at the Namchon Foundation and wife of GS Honorary Chairman Huh Chang-soo. The department has seen a rise in business leaders, including Son Byeong-ok, the first female president in the insurance industry, and Yoon Hye-young, the retail division head at Coupang. Graduates are also making strides in politics, law, broadcasting, and the arts. Former KBS announcer Hwang Jeong-min (1993) fondly recalled her professor Jeong Deok-ae's reading of Gerard Manley Hopkins' poem 'Pied Beauty' during class, emphasizing the lasting impact of her teachers' encouragement on her career.

In addition to the anniversary celebration, the department is hosting various performances and exhibitions throughout the year. An exhibition titled '100 Years of Pioneering, 100 Years of Future' will be held at the Ewha ECC Daesan Gallery until the end of the month, documenting the department's history. The English theater club 'Beings,' established in 1930, recently staged a performance of Shakespeare's 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' to commemorate the centennial. The event also marked the launch of the 'Future Committee for the 100th Anniversary of English Language and Literature,' where alumni from various fields gathered to discuss nurturing the next generation of female leaders.