Tag: Ewha Women’s University

Cheating Scandal, Not Influence Peddling is What Has Driven Korean Youths to Protest President Park

| December 5, 2016

I agree with this article that for the younger generation of Koreans the influence peddling scandal is to be expected, but the cheating to get Choi Soon-sil’s daughter into Ewha Women’s University is what really infuriates them:

A rigorously meritocratic education system lies at the heart of South Korea’s stellar rise from the ashes of the 1950-53 Korean War to Asia’s fourth-largest economy.

The system is highly competitive and can take a distressing toll on young students who devote their teenage years to studying for the national college entrance exam.

Admission to one of a handful of elite universities — such as Ewha — is seen as vital to a student’s future prosperity, social standing and even marriage prospects.

But however cut-throat it might be, there is steadfast public faith and trust in the exam’s fairness, with every applicant sitting the same paper on the same day, and a formalised marking system.

That faith is summed up in a term popular for decades, “a dragon from a ditch” — a person of modest means who rose to success through education and hard work.  (………..)

“But Chung and Choi shattered this faith and hope spectacularly,” it said.

Park’s presidency has coincided with growing disquiet over a widening disparity in incomes and opportunities — an inequality now embodied in the public mind by Choi and her daughter.

In a now-infamous Facebook posting in 2014, Chung flaunted her privilege, saying: “Money is part of your talent. If you don’t have talent, blame your parents.”

The depth of anger over Chung’s admission to Ewha has been illustrated by the large number of high-school students who have taken part in weekly mass demonstrations that have seen millions march through the streets of Seoul and other cities.

“I was so angry about Chung and couldn’t even sleep when I first heard about her scandal,” said Jenny Park, a 16-year-old high school student.

“What’s the point of studying night and day when the rich and powerful can rig the whole system so easily?” she said, waving a banner reading “We didn’t study hard for this.”  [AFP]

You can read more at the link, but like I said before I seriously doubt Choi Soon-sil is the only rich and connected person to get their kids into major universities in Korea through improper means.

Ewha Women’s University Admits Special Treatment Given for Admission of Choi Soon-sil’s Daughter

| November 21, 2016

What I am wondering is how many other well connected Korean kids received special treatment to attend Ewha Women’s University as well?  I seriously doubt Choi’s daughter is the only one to receive special treatment during the admissions process:

Chung Yoo-ra, the horseback rider daughter of Choi Soon-sil, President Park Geun-hye’s longtime friend (Yonhap)
Chung Yoo-ra, the horseback rider daughter of Choi Soon-sil, President Park Geun-hye’s longtime friend (Yonhap)

Chung Yoo-ra, the daughter of President Park Geun-hye’s embattled confidante Choi Soon-sil, was illegally admitted to a prestigious university in Seoul and was also given special treatment in academic records after enrollment, the Education Ministry confirmed Friday.

In a briefing to release the result of the audit of Ewha University and its faculty members, the ministry said that the school manipulated its admission process to accept Chung and she was given overly generous marks despite not attending classes, taking exams and turning in assignments.

Chung is a 19-year-old horseback rider and the daughter of Choi, the civilian accused of peddling influence and meddling in state affairs through her ties to Park.  [Korea Herald]

You can read more at the link.

Granddaughter of President Park Advisor Accused of Receiving Favorable Treatment at Ewha Women’s University

| October 20, 2016

I doubt the young woman in question is the first politically connected person to receive favorable treatment in admissions to a Korean university.  So why are people making a big deal about it now?:

Ewha Womans University President Choi Kyung-hee answers reporters’ questions before a meeting with professors and university staff held Monday. [PARK JONG-GEUN]
Ewha Womans University President Choi Kyung-hee answers reporters’ questions before a meeting with professors and university staff held Monday. [PARK JONG-GEUN]
After recent allegation that a granddaughter of President Park Geun-hye’s close mentor was granted admissions to Ewha Womans University unfairly, professors will hold a rally Wednesday to demand the university president step down, taking up a cause students have been championing for some 80 days.“Ewha Womans University, which has been under fire for its plans to build a college of continuing education, is now mired in a political issue,” said an emergency planning committee of Ewha professors in an official statement. “University President Choi Kyung-hee and the board of directors are handling the issues at the school dictatorially and failing to communicate with the university staff and students. It is high time that professors take up the cause.”

Professors will hold a rally in front of the main hall of the university, which has been occupied by students since July 28. It is the first time since the university’s establishment in 1886 that professors of the university have called for the ouster of the president.

The allegations concern Choi Soon-sil, daughter of Choi Tae-min, who was President Park Geun-hye’s mentor.  [Joong Ang Ilbo]

You can read more at the link, but the young woman in question won a gold medal in the Asian Games for an equestrian event and the university added winning a gold medal in equestrian as an additional selection criteria the year Choi applied to the university.  She also supposedly misses classes and turns in homework late and still gets good grades.  To me this is all hearsay and who knows if it is true.