Geoje teacher helps immigrant wives

Won Soon-yeon

By Kim Bo-eun

Won Soon-yeon, 63, who has lived her entire life on Geoje Island off Korea’s southern coast, has been recognized for her dedication to children for 37 years and her support for immigrant women.

She was selected by the Ministry of Education as the “Teacher of May,” ahead of Teachers’ Day which falls on May 15.

“I was really surprised when l was contacted and notified of the news,” she told The Korea Times. “I am from the countryside and there are so many great teachers out here.”

Won has been acknowledged for her work with immigrant brides on the island, which started when she was invited to speak at a forum on policies for women.

She decided she would have to hear from women on Geoje about their needs, and distributed 1,000 questionnaires of which 800 were returned.

“I remember seeing uneven handwriting which appeared to be that of a young elementary school student,” Won recalled.

“I was confused but later found out that it was written by a woman from the Philippines who was married to a Korean.”

Won realized that immigrant brides were in need of support, and in 2006 she started classes which taught them about Korean culture and the language.

She hosted classes, sometimes at her own home, on how to make kimchi, and encouraged the women to talk and write about themselves.

“In six years, they were even able to compose Korean poems,” Won said.

In 2008, she received an award as teacher of the year, and gave the 10 million won in prize money to six immigrant brides so that they could visit their home countries.

Won, who retired last August, spent close to four decades teaching at elementary schools in the region.

She nurtured many children as if they were her own ― she paid the high school tuition for 15 students whom she taught and also college tuition for two.

Won is now teaching at Geoje University.

“I myself was indebted by the love and care from the teachers I had,” she said.

“I would like to thank my students for granting me the opportunity to do what I did.”