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47-598: Ewha Womans University traces its roots back to Mary F. Scranton 's Ewha Haktang ( 이화학당 ; 梨花學堂 ) mission school for girls, which opened with one student on May 31, 1886. The name Ewha, which means "Pear Blossom", was bestowed by the Emperor Gojong the following year. The image of the pear blossom is incorporated in the school's logo. The school began providing college courses in 1910, and professional courses for women in 1925. The high school section, now known as Ewha Girls' High School (not to be confused with

94-509: A Samsung tablet computer which contained her login information. They found that Choi had received drafts of 44 presidential speeches on the tablet before she abandoned it. One of the most troubling of these was a Microsoft Word document which contained a corrected draft of a speech made by Park in Germany on March 28, 2014. To avoid plausible deniability by Park, they initially reported on October 19 that anonymous sources had rumored Choi

141-431: A "patriot" and stated she was grateful for his counsel and comfort during "difficult times." In late 2016, reports surfaced which raised questions that Choi Soon-sil had inappropriate access to, and possible influence over, President Park. Choi had allegedly been given regular reports on Park's schedule, speeches, and personnel arrangements, and had even seen classified information on secret meetings with North Korea . Choi

188-545: A 3rd hearing, focused on solving the mystery surrounding President Park's 7-hour public absence on the day of the 2014 Sewol ferry sinking . On 15 December 2016, the Special Committee held a 4th hearing to question the allegations over Mir and K-Sports foundation and how Chung Yoo-ra cheated her way through Ewha Womans University. Jeong Hyun-sik, a former K-Sports head, and former Ewha Womans University president Choi Kyung-hee and other affiliated people testified in

235-550: A Special Prosecution Team led by Park Young Soo began to investigate the Choi Soon-sil scandal. On March 10, 2017, the Constitutional Court of Korea ruled to uphold the impeachment of President Park Geun-Hye. All eight judges agreed that President Park abused her power. A new election was held sixty days afterwards, that resulted in the victory of Democratic Party candidate Moon Jae-in . Moon won 41% of

282-431: A couple of Ewha Womans University students and one male student, who was a disabled student at Yonsei University , claimed that this law was both sexist and discriminatory toward disabled people. This case eventually went to court, and the court ruled in the students' favor. Ewha Womans University became embroiled in the 2016 South Korean political scandal , because a former student, Chung Yoo-ra , had been admitted under

329-552: A direct exchange program with Mills College in Oakland, California. The university explains its unusual name by saying that while the lack of an apostrophe in "Womans University" is unconventional, the use of "Woman" rather than "Women" was normal in the past. Ewha Womans University Museum opened in April 1935. It has a wide range of artifacts, ranging from paintings, ceramics, crafts, doubles, and folk items, and its main collection

376-492: A joint impeachment motion against President Park Geun-hye. The motion, which was signed by 171 of 300 lawmakers, was put to a vote on Friday, 9 December 2016, and passed with 234 out of 300 votes, a tally much greater than the required 2/3 majority and which included many of Park's own ruling party. On December 19, Choi Soon-sil attended the first hearing in the trial of President Park in Seoul District Court. In

423-478: A middle school and a primary school were established, employing Korean women as teachers. Keller somewhat criticized the early missionary group for giving their Korean students Korean English names, instead of calling them by their Korean names. However, Kim mentions that in the 1886 Korean society, "Women were not even recognized with their own names, only as someone's daughter, sister, or mother. They did not have names of their own." Their English names were probably

470-414: A place there. The Park administration sought to influence the media in various ways, including through business ties with media executives, and had established a commission to harass and prosecute social media critics, including those who held her accountable for the handling of the 2014 sinking of MV Sewol , in which 304 civilians died. Choi's name had been completely obscured from public records through

517-412: A special rule change by virtue of her mother's close connections to South Korean President Park Geun-hye despite not meeting requirements. Students had already been protesting against some of the university's unilateral changes to the degree system and departments before the political scandal blew up. As a result, the university's president, Choi Kyunghee, was ousted and convicted and Chung Yoo-Ra's degree

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564-478: A university. It was the first South Korean university to be officially organized. According to figures provided by the university in April 2018, there are 21,596 enrolled students at the university. While figures on the student body's gender breakdown are not available, Korea JoongAng Daily reported in 2003 there were 10 male students enrolled at the time. In 2009, Asian Correspondent reported that male students make up 30% of all foreign international students at

611-407: A variety of means. In July 2016, Park's illegal business ties to Choi Soon-sil were uncovered by a reporter working for Chosun Broadcasting Company , who cornered Choi and attempted to secure an interview, but his report was spiked by executives at the company. In September, more cautious stories were printed by newspapers, alluding to Park's shady business deals, and on September 20, The Hankyoreh

658-799: Is the Ewha Womans University , one of the most prestigious women's schools in Asia. Scranton also founded the Tal Syeng Day School for Women in Seoul and the Training School for Bible Women. Mary Fletcher was born on December 9, 1832, in Belchertown, Massachusetts . Her father was Rev. Erastus Benton, a Methodist Episcopal minister. She married William T. Scranton; they had a son named William B. Scranton . After

705-618: Is the Korean National Treasure No. 107 white porcelain, iron, and grape jars. The museum consists of a permanent exhibition hall, a planning exhibition hall, a donation exhibition hall, and a Damin Goksik art museum. Helen Kim , the seventh principal and first Korean principal of Ewha, is considered to be pro-Japanese. She is known to have encouraged young men to enlist in the Japanese army. The statue of Helen Kim and

752-663: The Board of Directors of the Foundation is all Korean. With Korea's significant economic growth and its contributions to the global mission field, the Women's Division decided to extend the mission of the American Methodist Korean Women's Mission Foundation to other parts of Asia and to the world. In 2007, Scranton Women's Leadership Center was established as the program office of the Foundation to carry on

799-604: The Methodist Episcopal Church South established many schools, churches and hospitals in Korea since 1886, but in 1924 they were all incorporated to become one foundation. The mission of the American Methodist Korean Women's Mission Foundation was to empower Korean women to become whole persons in Jesus Christ through evangelism, education, medical care and social services. During the 20th century,

846-656: The Methodist churches in the United States went through several mergers. Accordingly, women's mission organizations also merged. The Women's Foreign Missionary Societies eventually became the United Methodist Women, and it became its national office. In the 1970s, most of the property and management of schools, churches, hospitals and community centers that Women's Division used to own were transferred to Korean leadership and Korean institutions. Today,

893-488: The building named after her on campus have both been criticized. Many protests were organized to take down the statue. While Ewha Womans University has been the center of women's rights movements, this feminist feature created controversies in Korea. One example was men's benefit from military service . Originally, getting extra points on employment and being paid for higher step in the salary class were available to males who had done their mandatory military service. In 1999,

940-476: The children went to church in nearby Jeongdong Methodist Church. Scranton and her co-workers experienced great difficulties because Koreans generally distrusted foreigners. They generally worked things out on their own, limiting the possibility of their learning the language. Even as she advanced in age, Scranton and her companions persisted, teaching the children English. Later, their curriculum would include Korean Language, English and classical Chinese. Later,

987-453: The coeducational Ewha Womans University High School, the university's demonstration school , founded in 1958), separated from the college section and is currently located in Jung-gu , Seoul. Both institutions share the same motto and the "pear blossoms" image in their logos. Immediately following the liberation of Korea on August 15, 1945, the college received government permission to become

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1034-412: The daughter of shaman -esque cult leader Choi Tae-min , had to President Park Geun-hye of South Korea. Widespread coverage of this South Korean political scandal began in late October 2016. On November 29, Park offered to begin the process of removing herself from power. On December 9, Park was impeached , and then Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn became the acting president. On December 21,

1081-919: The death of her husband, she moved to Ohio, where her son lived. There, she became active in the Euclid Avenue Methodist Church and in the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society (WFMS). When Scranton's son was appointed to the Methodist Medical Mission in Korea in 1884, the WFMS asked Scranton to become the first female missionary in Korea. Though limited by lack of language skills, Scranton began work to provide Christian education to women and children. Requesting financial assistance from WFMS to purchase some land and huts, construction began in February 1886. Though unfinished,

1128-457: The deceased Yuk had appeared to him in his dreams, asking him to help her daughter. A leaked diplomatic cable from the U.S. embassy in Seoul reported subsequent rumors that Choi was a "Korean Rasputin " who "had complete control over Park's body and soul during her formative years and...his children accumulated enormous wealth as a result." In response to this scrutiny, Park called Choi Tae-min

1175-502: The education of Korean girls in Korea and which remains a partner in mission. The center has close ties to United Methodist Women , as the Women's Division's property committee selects the foundation's board of directors. The American Methodist Korean Women's Mission Foundation was founded in 1924 during the Japanese occupation of Korea. The Women's Foreign Missionary Societies of the Methodist Episcopal Church and

1222-569: The first hearing, prosecutors say Choi used their relationship to pressure companies to donate to two foundations and siphoned off money for personal use. However, she denies the allegations that she influenced the president. On January 5, 2017, constitutional court began its first trial regarding President Park's impeachment. On January 16, 2017, Choi Soon-sil testified herself in the Constitutional Court and denied any wrongdoings. The Constitutional Court declared that it will hold

1269-504: The first time since 1988. Participants included Samsung Electronics Vice Chair Lee Jae-yong , Hyundai Motor Chair Chung Mong-koo , Lotte Group Chair Shin Dong-bin , SK Group Chair Chey Tae-won and the heads of CJ , LG , Hanwha and Hanjin , The Federation of Korean Industries . In the hearing, presidents of the chaebols told the parliament that they were not seeking favours when they made contributions to two foundations at

1316-475: The hearing. On 22 December 2016, a 5th hearing was held to question former Presidential Secretary Woo Byung-woo and former presidential nurse Cho Yeo-ok. On 26 December 2016, special committee members of the National Assembly held a 6th hearing in a prison and met Choi Soon-sil in her detention cell; she repeatedly refused to attend a parliamentary hearing. She denied most of her allegations over

1363-460: The heart of a scandal that appeared poised to bring down President Park Geun-hye . On 7 December 2016, President Park's former aides, including ex-chief of staff Kim Ki-choon and former Vice Culture Minister Kim Jong, testified in the 2nd parliamentary hearing about suspicions that Choi Soon-sil meddled in government affairs. On 14 December 2016, the Special Committee of the Parliament held

1410-540: The heritage of Mrs. Scranton and the founding mothers of United Methodist Women worldwide. The North American alumni of Ewha Girls' High School decided to raise funds for scholarships in honor of Mrs. Mary F. Scranton. In 2009, they donated a significant amount of scholarship funds to the Scranton Women's Leadership Center, so that women in developing countries could go to school just as what Mrs. Scranton did for Korean women. The Scranton Women's Leadership Center

1457-474: The influence-peddling scandal. On 9 January 2017, a 7th hearing was held to question Culture Minister Cho Yoon-sun, former chief of admissions at Ewha Womans University Namkung Gon, K-Sports Foundation Chairman Chung Dong Chun, and a staffer at the presidential security office Ku Soon-sung. The hearing confirmed that a blacklist for left-leaning artists existed. On October 25, 2016, President Park publicly acknowledged her close ties with Choi and apologized to

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1504-401: The national protest after President Park refused to help the investigation of her abuse of power. On November 26, more than 2 million citizens participated in the protest, calling for the resignation of President Park. Protests went on, and on January 21, 2017, a 13th protest was held in Seoul with more than 200,000 attendees. On December 5, 2016, three opposition parties agreed to introduce

1551-726: The only name they went by as individual women. In 1895, Scranton left Ewha. She founded the Tal Syeng Day School in Seoul and worked with Jung-Dong Methodist Episcopal Church, Tal-Syeng Methodist Episcopal Church, and Baldwin Chapel and travelled to small towns though it was very dangerous. She also trained women in evangelizing through the Training School for Bible Women. Slowly, the WFMS established churches, Sunday Schools, hospitals and dispensaries and so on, and Korea slowly began to accept foreign missionaries. Scranton died in Korea in 1909. Scranton Memorial Hall in Ewha High School

1598-475: The popular vote in the election. Choi Soon-sil had known President Park Geun-hye since 1974, when Choi's father, Choi Tae-min , offered to counsel and advise Park as she and her family were grieving after the assassination of Park's mother, then- first lady Yuk Young-soo . In 2007, a South Korean news magazine publicized a thirty-year-old Korean Central Intelligence Agency report, revealing that Choi Tae-min initially approached Park by telling her that

1645-469: The public. On October 28, Park dismissed key members of her top office staff while her approval ratings fell to 5%. Her approval rating ranged from 1 to 3% for Korean citizens under 60 years of age, while it remained higher at 13% for over 60 years age group. It was the worst ever presidential approval rating in Korean history and even lower than the 6% approval rating of former President Kim Young-sam , who

1692-401: The relationship between Park Geun-hye and Choi Soon-sil caused mass demonstrations in Seoul . Protesters called for the resignation of Park Geun-hye . On November 12, more than 1 million citizens participated in the protests at Gwanghwamun Square close to presidential residence demanding President Park's resignation or impeachment. On November 19, another 1 million citizens participated in

1739-470: The school opened in May 1886. The first student was Kim, a high-ranking official's concubine, but she left three months later. The first permanent student was a girl (Kkon-nim) from the street whose mother had typhus; and her second student was an orphan. In 1887, King Gojong named the school " Ewha Haktang " or "pear blossom." In the evenings, the school was the boarding home for the children and on Sundays,

1786-630: The tablet computer, and denied knowingly receiving classified information. On 30 March 2017, the Seoul Central District Court issued a warrant for Park's arrest on corruption charges. She was arrested later that day. On 6 December, chiefs of South Korea's major conglomerates ( chaebols ) came to the National Assembly to attend the first parliamentary hearing on the scandal involving President Park Geun-hye and her long-time confidante Choi Soon-sil . It happened for

1833-617: The university. The university collaborates with around 830 partners in 64 countries including Australian National University , Cornell University , Free University of Berlin , Ghent University , Harvard University , Indiana University , King's College London , Mount Allison University , Nanyang Technological University , Ohio State University , Peking University , University of Kuala Lumpur , University of California, Santa Cruz , University of British Columbia , University of Edinburgh , University of Hong Kong , University of South Carolina , Uppsala University , Waseda University , and

1880-472: Was a close friend of Choi Soon-sil , is suspected of being involved in the management of shell corporation The Blue K and Widec Sports. Choi set up these companies in Korea and Germany allegedly to funnel money from the foundations. Choi gave an interview to the Segye Ilbo saying she was not leaving Germany for health reasons, denied creating a secret group called the "Eight Fairies", denied owning

1927-545: Was able to independently uncover Choi's name by interviewing employees at a massage parlor . The managing editor of The Hankyoreh published a public appeal for Chosun Broadcasting Company to air the spiked story. Following this story, investigation of Choi deepened, but her exact relationship with Park was still unclear. Reporters covering the story for JTBC Newsroom located a rental office in Germany which had previously been temporarily used by Choi. There, they retrieved

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1974-636: Was also alleged to have dictated, or at the least influenced, Park's decision-making on everything from her choice of handbags, to public statements, to state affairs. Choi was also alleged to have used a South Korean overseas development assistance project (a convention center in Myanmar ) for improper personal benefits. Choi was indicted for extorting bribes, abusing power illegally and leaking classified documents and also accused of having influenced Ewha Womans University to change their admission criteria in order for her daughter Chung Yoo-ra to be given

2021-739: Was editing Park's speeches. Once Park responded by denying that any of her speeches had been sent to private individuals, JTBC publicized their possession of the tablet on October 24. The following morning, Park admitted that Choi had been acting as her unofficial, unpaid personal assistant. Coverage of Choi subsequently spread to all media. Media outlets reported that Choi and President Park's senior staff members, including both Ahn Jong-bum and Jeong Ho-sung, have allegedly used their influence to extort ₩ 77.4 billion (US$ 60 million) from Korean chaebols —family-owned large business conglomerates—and set up two cultural and sports-related foundations, Mir and K-sports foundations. National fencer Ko Young-tae , who

2068-485: Was founded with the aim creating educational opportunities for women in developing countries and train women leaders for church and society. 2016 South Korean political scandal The 2016 South Korean political scandal , often called Park Geun-hye–Choi Soon-sil Gate in South Korea ( Korean : 박근혜·최순실 게이트 ), was a scandal that emerged around October 2016 in relation to the unusual access that Choi Soon-sil ,

2115-468: Was named in her honor. During the presidency of President Moohyun Roh , the university was threatened to be shut down, but the president himself decreed that it was a historical university and signed a treaty for it to remain standing. Scranton Women's Leadership Center , founded in 2007 under the historic American Methodist Korean Women's Mission Foundation , through which United Methodist Women predecessor organizations undertook extensive assistance in

2162-547: Was rescinded. Mary F. Scranton Mary Fletcher Benton Scranton (December 9, 1832 – October 8, 1909) was an American Methodist Episcopal Church missionary . She was the first Woman's Foreign Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church representative to Korea and the founder of the Ewha Girls School (Pear Blossom Academy) under Emperor Gojong . Today, the Ewha Girls School

2209-492: Was widely blamed for failing the Korean economy, which eventually led to the Asian Financial Crisis . On November 4, President Park apologized for the second time. On November 29, Park offered to resign as President and invited the National Assembly to arrange a transfer of power. The opposition parties rejected the offer, accusing Park of attempting to avoid the process of impeachment. The revelations about

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