Embassy of the United States

Speeches and Transcripts

Congratulatory Remarks for Ewha University’s Scranton College Opening

Alexander Vershbow
U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Korea

Ewha University, LG Convention Hall
Friday, May 11, 2007

Ambassador Vershbow at Ewha Womans University Scranton College ceremony

Good afternoon and welcome, President Lee Bae-yong, Dean Kim Hei-sook, Korean educators, and members of the Ewha Womans University community. Spring has finally arrived, and with each spring comes not just cherry blossoms, festivals and spring breaks, but also new beginnings and more changes.

Today, we are here to celebrate the birth of a new beginning for Ewha Womans University, the opening of Scranton College. As we have heard, this new college honors the Methodist missionary Mary F. Scranton, an American who opened the doors of Korea’s first school for women on May 31, 1886, in a house located on what is now the Jeong-dong neighborhood in Seoul.

The year 1886 was a different world. The United States and the Kingdom of Chosun had established diplomatic relations only four years earlier, and the American people were just 20 years removed from the destruction of the Civil War and struggle over slavery. At a time when women were taught to serve their husbands and sons, Mary Scranton began her work in Korea by teaching Korean, English and the Bible to a single student. Since then, the campus population has grown to over 20,000 women students. Ewha Womans University alumni include distinguished leaders, such as former Prime Minister Han Myeong-sook and 11 other sitting National Assembly members which is 30% of all female National Assembly members, the first female director of the Korean Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) Min Byeong-soo, and many of the best known Korean celebrities, journalists, and musicians. Ewha Womans University certainly has a history of educating the best and the brightest.

Education is one of the many important shared values that link the American and Korean people and Ms. Scranton was not the only American, but one of the many that endeavored to help educate Koreans. In March 1915, the American missionary Dr. Horace G. Underwood built the foundation of the Chosun Christian College, now known as Yonsei University. Thanks to Dr. Underwood, the founding father of the Fulbright Korea program and namesake of one of your rival colleges across the street, the Fulbright Korea program has grown to be one of the largest exchange programs in the world, next to that of Germany.

Since 1886, Korea has indeed seen great changes in the fields of education, medicine, and of course, international relations. The history of the U.S.-Korea relationship -- which will celebrate its 125th anniversary on May 22 – shows how Korea found its place in the international community through a commitment to change, free trade, and democracy.

This closeness of our relationship today can be seen in our joint efforts to solve the North Korean nuclear issue, to consolidate peace on the peninsula, and to encourage North Korea to join the community of nations. It can be seen in the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement, which promises to increase trade and investment in both directions, create hundreds of thousands of new jobs, and provide benefits to consumers both here in Korea and in America. I am confident that future graduates in international and interdisciplinary studies from Scranton College will play an important role in further strengthening our relationship.

The addition of the Scranton College at Ewha Womans University further emphasizes our countries’ shared goal of creating the best educational programs for the leaders of tomorrow. I look forward to seeing an increasing number of women benefit from the vibrant educational experience that Ewha has to offer in international relations and interdisciplinary studies. Perhaps a few years down the road, I will be shaking the hand of a diplomatic leader or a presidential hopeful, or maybe even be interviewed by a top reporter who graduated from Ewha University’s Scranton College. Congratulations on a wonderful new addition to the Ewha campus family and best of luck to all.

Thank you.