[Political Relations] Meet Alumnus Han Gyeong-A, the First Female Marine Officer
- Date2019.09.24
- 7748
Over its 133-years, Ewha Womans University has produced alumni with a wide range of careers. This is a summary of an interview with alumnus Lt. Colonel Han Gyeong-A (Social Studies Education, graduation class of 2001), Korea’s first female Marine officer.
Q. It’s nice to meet you. Please introduce yourself.
It’s nice to meet you, too. I am Lieutenant Colonel Han Gyeong-A. I was commissioned as a Marine officer in 2001 and am now serving as the commander of the Recruit Training Center under the Republic of Korea Marine Corps Education and Training Group. I majored in History Education in the Department of Social Studies Education at Ewha Womans University College of Education.
Q. What made you, a student at the College of Education, dream to follow a career path as unique as the military?
I entered Ewha with a vague dream of being a history teacher. At the end of my junior year, I was hoping to approach history from a more academic perspective. Just by chance at a Navy and Marine Corps Officer recruiting presentation, I heard at that time that officers were given the opportunity to study at graduate school through the commissioned officer education system. It made me interested in a military commission. In addition, I was curious about such an unusual career for a woman.
Q. Did you have any special reason to choose the Marine Corps among the services?
When I applied in 2001, the Navy and Marine Corps were selecting their first female officers. The title “first female officer” attracted me. Also, the image of the Marine Corps, which is tougher than any other branches of the military, was appealing to me. At the time, the competition rate was as high as 17:1 and I also applied for the army (as the 46th commissioned female officer). Luckily, I passed for both branches, but I enlisted in the Marine Corps due to the attraction of being the first.
Q. Since joining the Marine Corps, you have won various “first” titles, such as the first female major and the first female lieutenant colonel. How do you feel about that?
It is true that I have been excessively proud of being “the first.” But, learning jobs and tasks at the battalion, I was aware that pride was worthless and began to become a true soldier. Since then, I have been advising younger female officers to be a professional in their fields, not a “female” officer but a marine officer.
Q. What did you learn and experience at Ewha?
I learned independence while attending Ewha. I developed the strength to not lean on something when in trouble and to find ways to deal with my troubles on my own. Moreover, Ewha itself is an influential lifelong background that has supported me. After graduation, you will understand what I mean.
Source: Ewha Today