Alumna Ms. Yang Gaehwa to Serve as a Bridge of Friendship between Korea and Japan
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- Writer 커뮤니케이션팀
- 보도일자 2015-07-23
Extraordinary Success for a Woman Diplomat as a ‘Japan Expert’
Ms. Yang is a professional Diplomat with an extensive career experience in Japan as well as Germany, Nepal and China. Upon graduation from Sookmyung, Department of German Language and Culture, she joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in December of the same year.
Last February, she was appointed as a Consul General, for the first time for a woman diplomat in the current administration. She was the Deputy Consul in Sendai at the time. Being promoted to a Consul General in the same region, where one has worked in the lower rank, is said to be very rare and exceptional.
Ms. Yang now heads the Consulate General in Sendai, which is responsible for the safety of approximately 11,500 Koreans living in six prefectures in the north-eastern Japan, including Fukushima, the victim of the Great Earthquake and the subsequent nuclear accident in 2011.
Her unusual appointment at a time when the safety of our people is seriously threatened is a good indication of her strong capabilities and diplomatic prowess as a Japan expert.
Make a Choice, Take the Challenge, and Work Hard
In her lecture, she emphasized the importance of “making a choice, taking the challenge, and working hard”.
“When you were little, your parents made decisions for you, but now, you should make your own choices, and take responsibility. To do so, you must believe in yourself no matter what, and love and encourage yourself as the owner of your life.”
She left a strong message, saying “With the United Nations and the World Bank led by Koreans, our global presence has improved significantly. Do not just sit there and wait for the opportunity to come, but go out to the world, with an open and positive attitude. Experience the new status of Korea and yourself. To make extraordinary achievements, you must be ready to make extraordinary efforts.
And Now, Thinking of Sookmyung
To survive and succeed in such harsh world of public officers, she had to work harder than others. She could not afford to attend reunions or interact with old friends, she said with a sigh. This was why she was all the more delighted to visit her old school and spend time with the young students.
“There are many Sookmyung alumnae at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today: more than dozens work at the Consulate General in Azerbaijan, the Korean Embassy in Egypt and the ROK Mission to ASEAN among others. They are all about our soft power,” She remarked. “Having come a long way and as an alumnus myself, I want to be helpful to my old school and young juniors. I will be in Sendai for the next three years, so feel free to email me and drop by the Consulate if you have a chance to visit Sendai,” she said warmly.
Translation by Sookmyung Interpretation Volunteers