Creating a New Space for Education That Links Tradition to the Future(Kwon Young-ha, graduating class of 1957)
- Date2021.06.22
- 8059
The married couple Ewha alumna Kwon Young-ha (Department of Korean Language and Literature, graduated in 1961) and former Governor of Bank of Korea Park Seung have continued their passion for donations with a special interest in the advancement of education for fostering talented individuals for the future. In particular, Kwon donated 100 million KRW to the Hak-gwan remodeling and reconstruction fund out of gratitude to her alma mater, recalling precious memories of her time at Ewha. We listened to her passion for donation based on her devotion to educational advancement and special affection for Ewha.
Repaying Ewha for Beautiful Memories
The married couple alumna Kwon Young-ha (Department of Korean Language and Literature, graduated in 1961) and former Governor of Bank of Korea Park Seung demonstrated a unique philosophy for donations, to the extent that they expressed their desire to donate their wealth to society. In particular, the couple actively donated to various educational institutions from primary schools to universities based on a particular interest in the advancement of education in Korea. When they heard the news of Ewha Womans University Hak-gwan remodeling project, Kwon donated 100 million KRW to the Hak-gwan remodeling and reconstruction fund on April 30. Kwon has maintained close ties with Ewha, with her daughter and daughter-in-law also becoming Ewha alumnae. She remarked, “After hearing the news of Hak-gwan remodeling, I visited the school to take my time and look around Hak-gwan and the Ewha campus. It reminded me of my precious memories at Ewha, like attending classes and socializing with friends. I was really happy to have the opportunity to donate to Ewha in return for gifting me such beautiful memories.”
Creating a New Space for Education That Links Tradition to the Future
When alumna Kwon Young-ha studied at Ewha, there was a large athletics field on the present-day Ewha Campus Complex (ECC) site, and Hak-gwan was yet to be built. Although many changes have taken place at Ewha since she was a student, Kwon still felt a sense of familiarity at the school, as she had frequently visited Ewha with her college friends on Ewha’s founding anniversary day to witness the changes for herself. She reflected, “It was impressive to see the school moving forward into the future while preserving its old buildings. There are so many funds to donate to, but I chose to donate to the Hak-gwan remodeling and reconstruction fund because, when I heard about the remodeling project, I felt that it would be an opportunity for Ewha to take another leap forward. I had intended to make my donation quietly, so I feel a little bashful at this warm public reception.” Kwon’s donation added momentum to the longstanding dream of repairing Hak-gwan. Through the remodeling project, Hak-gwan will be reborn as a space where Ewha will write its new history beyond the past 135 years and embody the true spirit of education.