Hong Sook-yes

Hong Sook-ja (홍숙자, born June 25, 1933 in Seoul ) is a South Korean diplomat , politician and women's rights activist .

Life

She first studied political science at the private Dongguk University , where she was the only woman in the entire course. She then received a recommendation that enabled her to study at Boston University , where she graduated in 1958. In the United States she married Cheon Juhwa, with whom she had a son.

After returning to Korea in 1958, she found a job at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In 1962, she completed a training program for diplomats from developing countries in New York . After this training, she began to question the patriarchal society in Korea and also divorced her husband. She became the first Korean diplomat abroad in 1965 and served as a vice consul in the New York City Consulate . However, she continued to face discrimination. In 1971 she quit the service to devote herself to the fight for women's rights in Korea.

In 1975 she obtained a doctorate from Dongguk University and was appointed professor there in 1979. Also in the 1970s she began her activity in the Korean National Council of Women , which was founded by Helen Kim . She eventually became its president and worked primarily through media and committee work to bring women's issues into the limelight. In 1983 she received a civil medal for her work. From 1986 to 1988 she was the successor to Miriam Dell as President of the International Women's Council .

In 1987 she was the leader of the Korean Social Democratic Party, a small party with no parliamentary representation. After the June movement in 1987, in which Chun Doo-hwan was urged to give up power, she ran as a presidential candidate in the first democratic elections in South Korea since the dictatorship began in 1971. Her candidacy had no chance, but she was the only woman in the field of candidates that was not only noticed in her own country. Since she and her party were destitute, she had to borrow the high fees to run for office. She ultimately withdrew her candidacy and signaled her support for opposition candidate Kim Young-sam , who, however, lost the election to General Roh Tae-woo .

Individual evidence

1. ^ ^{A b} Boston University (Boston Korean Diaspora Project): Hong Suk Ja: Pursuing Women's Rights in South Korea
2. ↑ Der Spiegel , December 7, 1987: We all still have to learn democracy