[Ewha Today] June 18, 1908 – The First Graduation Ceremony of the Secondary School Division
- Date2025.06.18
- 446
In 1908, just 23 years after its founding, Ewha celebrated a historic milestone: the graduation of its first five students. The trailblazing graduates—Kim Soon-i, Choi Kyung-sook, Song Susanna, Choi Hwal-ran, and Kim Rebecca—had completed the full curriculum of the newly established secondary division, founded four years earlier. Their graduation marked a pivotal moment in history, signaling the end of an era when “marriage was considered graduation” for women.
Dressed in traditional white hanbok with their hair neatly tied up, the graduates stood with pride before Jeongdong Church, where the commencement ceremony was held. Their dignified presence became a beacon of hope and inspiration for younger students and for women across the nation.
Following graduation, these pioneering women took up roles as educators at Ewha Haktang and in the Yeongbyeon region, serving their country and society as dedicated professionals and capable leaders.