Dior CEO Delphine Arnault to receive honorary doctorate from Korea's first school for women

Dior CEO Delphine Arnault will receive an honorary doctorate from Ewha Womans University in Seoul on Thursday, in a ceremony expected to draw several of South Korea's top business figures.

Ewha said the honorary doctorate in business administration recognizes her leadership in the global fashion industry and her contributions to nurturing talent and advancing opportunities for women, The Korea Herald reported.

Hyundai Group Chairwoman Hyun Jeong-eun is expected to attend, while Lotte Group Chairman Shin Dong-bin, his son Shin Yoo-yeol, co-CEO of Lotte Biologics and head of the future growth office at Lotte Corp, and Hotel Shilla President Lee Boo-jin, the eldest daughter of the late Samsung Group Chairman Lee Kun-hee, are considering joining, the newspaper said, citing industry sources.

In her acceptance speech, Arnault is expected to stress Korea's importance to Dior and reaffirm her commitment to supporting young women's creativity and career development.

Ewha President Lee Hyang-sook said the degree would deepen cooperation between the university and Dior and create more opportunities to develop future global leaders.

People walk through the Ewha Campus Complex at Ewha Womans University in Seoul. Photo by Unsplash/Pond Juprasong

Hyun, an Ewha graduate, is a former trustee of Ewha Haktang, the foundation that runs the university, the Seoul Economic Daily reported. It said the ceremony will be held at Kim Young-eui Hall in the music building on Ewha's campus in Seoul's Seodaemun District.

Arnault, 51, is the eldest child of Bernard Arnault, chairman and CEO of French luxury conglomerate LVMH. She has led Christian Dior Couture since February 2023, after a decade as executive vice president at Louis Vuitton.

Dior's ties to Ewha date to April 2022, when the French fashion house staged its fall 2022 women's collection show on the campus, its first runway show in South Korea.

Ewha was founded in 1886 by American Methodist missionary Mary Scranton as Korea's first school for women. Thursday's ceremony is part of celebrations marking its 140th anniversary.