Helen Kim

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]

This article is about the politician. For the American actress, see Helen Kim (actress).
In this Korean name, the family name is Kim.
Helen Kim
Busan 1951
Busan 1951
Born1899
Seoul, Korean Empire
Died1970
Seoul, South Korea
Occupationpolitician, educator, and social activist
NationalityKorean Empire, South Korea
Period1899–1970
GenrePoetry, novel, essay, drama
Notable awardsOrder of Cultural Merit (1963, rank unknown)
Korean name
Hangul
김활란
Hanja
Revised RomanizationGim Hwal-lan
McCune–ReischauerKim Hwal-ran
Art name
Hangul
우월
Hanja
又月
Revised RomanizationUwol
McCune–ReischauerUwŏl

Biography

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]

Controversy

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]

References
  1. Kwon, Ji-youn (31 December 2013). "Korea Times Leads 'Personal Journalism'". The Korea Times. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
  2. Kwon, Insook (2006-01-01). "Feminists Navigating the Shoals of Nationalism and Collaboration: The Post-Colonial Korean Debate over How to Remember Kim Hwallan". Frontiers: A Journal of Women Studies. 27 (1): 39–66. doi:10.1353/fro.2006.0018. ISSN 1536-0334. S2CID 161295080.
  3. "Helen Kim and Ed Hymoff". Boston University. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
  4. Bahk, Eun-ji (31 May 2013). "Ewha Students Demand Ex-Leader Statue Down". The Korea Times. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
  5. "Dean of Girls College in Korea Speaks Here". Greeley Daily Tribune. 20 November 1931. Retrieved 2 November 2015 – via Newspaper Archive.
  6. "Helen Kim". Columbia 250. Columbia University. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
  7. Em, Henrey H. (2013). The Great Enterprise: Sovereignty and Historiography in Modern Korea. Durham: Duke University Press. p. 171. ISBN 9780822353577.
  8. Seth, Michael J. (2002). Education Fever: Society, Politics, and the Pursuit of Schooling in South Korea. Honolulu: University of Hawai'i Press. p. 37. ISBN 0824825349.
  9. Yun, Suh-young (1 November 2011). "Helen Kim: Mother of the Korea Times". The Korea Times. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
  10. Palmer, Brandon (2013). Fighting for the Enemy: Koreans in Japan's War, 1937–1945. Seattle, Washington: University of Washington Press. p. 100. ISBN 9780295992570.
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