Helen Kim | |
---|---|
Born | 1899 Seoul, Korean Empire |
Died | 1970 Seoul, South Korea |
Occupation | politician, educator, and social activist |
Nationality | Korean Empire, South Korea |
Period | 1899–1970 |
Genre | Poetry, novel, essay, drama |
Notable awards | Order of Cultural Merit (1963, rank unknown) |
Korean name | |
Hangul | 김활란 |
Hanja | |
Revised Romanization | Gim Hwal-lan |
McCune–Reischauer | Kim Hwal-ran |
Art name | |
Hangul | 우월 |
Hanja | 又月 |
Revised Romanization | Uwol |
McCune–Reischauer | Uwŏl |
Helen Kim (also Kim Hwal-lan; Korean: 김활란; 1899 – 1970) was a South Korean politician, educator, social activist, and feminist. Her art name was Wuwol (우월). Kim is the founder of the daily Korean newspaper, The Korea Times.[1]
Kim was born in Incheon to a large, modern family.[2] She attended Christian schools as a girl.[3] She attended Ewha Girls School. Between graduating from Ewha, she "established the national YWCA Korea" in 1922.[4] Then she went to Wesleyan College where she earned her bachelor's degree in 1924.[2] Kim went to Boston University for a master's in philosophy (1931) and then received her PhD in education from Columbia University in 1931.[2]
Kim later became dean of a girls' college (Ewha College) in 1931.[5] By the time of her death, this school will have become the largest women's university in the world.[6]
Kim was involved with Kŭnwuhwoe, which was a national women's organization that was dedicated to ending the "remaining Korean feudal practices and beliefs as well as colonial constraints."[2] However, she didn't stay involved for long because she was "unwilling to work with women who were Marxists and socialists."[7]
In 1945, Kim, O Ch'ǒn-sǒk, Yu Ŏk-kyǒm and Paek Nak-chun formed the Korean Committee on Education.[8] This committee worked with the United States in the Education Bureau, making recommendations about schools and their staff.[8]
Kim became director of the Office of Public Information for President Syngman Rhee in 1948.[2] In 1949, she attended the United Nations General Assembly in Boston.[3] As the director of the Office of Public Information, she recommended that an English newspaper was needed.[9] She chose the name of the paper, deciding that The Korea Times was the best name for representing the whole country.[9] The newspaper was published on November 1, 1950.[9]
Kim is a controversial figure because of her involvement in activities that were considered "pro-Japanese" during the Japanese occupation of Korea.[4] As the principal of Ehwa, she used her position to inspire others to encourage the men in their lives to join the military draft for the Japanese army.[10] Kim herself justified her actions as "necessary in order to keep Ewha open under harsh colonial policies" and could also be seen as consistent with Methodist Church teachings (Kim's religion).[3] Kim continues to be an agent of controversy, with her effigy being burned[2] and students protesting her statue.[4]