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Hwang Eun-mee |
"I am so pleased that the importance of cultivating talented women was acknowledged," Hwang told The Korea Times.
The provincial government jointly launched the award with Ewha Girls' High School and Dong-A Ilbo in 2001 to award women or women's groups who contribute to social and national development. It commemorates the patriotism of Yoo Gwan-sun, an independence activist. Yoo was one of the organizers of the March 1 Independence Movement against the Japanese occupation and was tortured to death.
So far, two organizations and 13 individuals have received the award.
"This year, we have acknowledged Hwang's achievements including developing various career programs for jobseekers and cultivating talented people," said Kim Seog-pil, director of the Women & Family Policy Bureau at the provincial government.
Hwang graduated from Ewha Womans University in 1973 after studying international office management in 1977.
She then eanred an MBA in management from Yonsei University.
She entered the Bank of America's Seoul branch in 1977 and worked there as an executive secretary, a HR specialist and a global marketing officer until 1995.
During her years as the president of Business & Professional Women Korea from 2009 to 2011, Hwang conducted a campaign called Equal Pay Day calling for equal pay for equal work.
Hwang became the president of the CCF in 2009.
The award ceremony will take place March 30 at the Independence Hall of Korea in Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province.
Hwang will receive a cash prize of 20 million ($17,507) won.
The provincial government granted other awards to 14 18-year-old girls for their model behavior as high school students. Each winner will receive 1.5 million won in prize money.