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| Dr. Oh, Chairman of the Board for Scranton Women's Leadership Center |
One of the most inspiring hour during our journey was spent with Dr. Jong Nam OH. We were honored to have a presentation by a very talented, brilliant and humble man. Here is his bio...
Dr. Jong Nam Oh is Senior Advisor to Kim & Chang, one of the most renowned law firms in Asia. Dr. Oh is also the Professor/Director of Science & Policy Advanced Research Course at Seoul National University. In addition, he serves on the Board of Directors of Samsung Securities, GM Korea, and UNICEF Korea. Oh completed his term as the first Korean Executive Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in October 2006 and joined Kim & Chang as Senior Advisor thereafter. Prior to joining Kim & Chang, he served the Korean government for 30 years, working mostly at the Economic Planning Board and later at the Ministry of Finance and Economy. Dr. Oh also worked in the Office of the President as Economic Secretary to the President during Kim, Dae-jung administration. From February 2002 through September 2004, he was Commissioner of the Statistics Korea. Dr. Oh earned his Bachelor of Law degree from Seoul National University in Korea and Ph. D. in Economics and MBA from Southern Methodist University in Texas, USA. (taken from the SWLC website)
Dr. Oh captured his audience of 10 by stating "Methodist Women brought change to Korea in 1885 - especially for women". He then expanded on one particular Methodist Women - Mary Scranton - and the relationship the Methodist had in assisting girls and women in acquiring an education. His fascinating and very personal story came forth over the next 20 minutes or so. He gave credit for all he is today to a woman who was widowed early in life (one month after the birth of their first son when the husband/father was killed in the Korean War), a single parent who raised a child by herself, a woman who was a product of her background in a mix of Confucianism and Buddhism, and a bright woman who stood strong against the expectations for women in her day to get as much education as she could and to make sure her only son did the same thing. Yes, that son is Dr. Jong Nam Oh. He tutored kids while in 7th grade and noted that only 10 of 75 went on to 8th grade. He is what he is today because a woman paved the way for another woman to make it possible for him to get an education which has taken him all over the world in various field of expertise (as noted in his biographic information).
In my notes that day at the top of the page I wrote... GOD IS GOD for it seemed to me the God his mother relied upon is surely the God, same God, that we call upon for solace and strength. This one special woman gave him everything including the strong desire to be a champion of women throughout his lifetime. Thus he is chairman of the board for Scranton Women's Leadership Center for he too knows the strength of any society lies in the education of its women. He accepted this position as a way to repay his mother for all she had done for him.
Dr.Oh said "Korea is what it is today because of our education." and he credits the early missionaries from the United States for bringing that education for all (women especially ) to his country. The desire for education is so strong and the demand for positions in these schools is great. Korea's climb from the poorest of the poor to near the top of the world's economic leaders, rests solely on the total society's support for education for everyone.
In another post I'll continue sharing Dr. Oh's wisdom and thoughts. I'm still trying to read the quickly written notes and putting those thoughts together. Thanks Dr. Oh for your dedication to moving Korean society to the next step where women in Korea will be given the opportunities for leadership roles someday soon. All of this because of one woman provided him with lesson on a lifetime of learning. "Every woman is authorized by God to be a leader." To that end he gives time and energy to the Scranton Women's Leadership Center.
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