Candler School of Theology has received two gifts that will establish the first-ever scholarship endowments created specifically for South Korean students at the school. The Bishop Youngkag Kwon Scholarship and the Dr. Haesuk Lee Scholarship will be awarded beginning in the 2015-2016 academic year.

“We are honored to receive these gifts as a sign of the deep and enduring bonds of friendship between the Kwon family, Dr. Lee, and Candler,” says Jan Love, dean of the school. “As the first scholarships designated for South Korean students, they symbolize both Candler’s role in preparing leaders for the church’s ministries in the world and its commitment to international engagement.”

The gifts recognize and honor abiding personal relationships between the benefactors and two key figures at Candler: Karen Scheib and Fred Craddock.

Bishop Youngkag Kwon announces the two new scholar-<br/>ships at Candler’s Centennial Convocation, with his <br/>son Guhyun Kwon 06T translating.The gift given by Bishop Kwon, the father of Guhyun Kwon—a 2006 Candler graduate and current Alumni Board member—in many ways honors the family’s relationship with Scheib, associate professor of pastoral care and pastoral theology at Candler. Scheib, who has served as the faculty advisor to the Korean graduate student group at Emory for 15 years, developed a close relationship with the family through the younger Kwon and his wife, Sunhwa Yeon 10T, when they were students at Candler. A frequent visiting professor and lecturer at the Methodist Theological University in Seoul, Scheib was invited in 2010 to speak at Kwon’s installation at Sunlin Methodist Church in Incheon. Kwon succeeded his father as senior pastor of the 2,000-member church.

“Gift giving is an important part of Korean culture and is seen as a reflection of jeong, a special kind of Korean love, affection, and bond,” explains Scheib. “I am deeply honored to count the Kwon family and so many South Korean students and their families as companions in ministry and as brothers and sisters in Christ. All of us at Candler are deeply honored by this generous gift.”

Dr. Haesuk Lee 89T with Fred Craddock, Bandy <br/>Professor of Preaching, Emeritus.The gift given by Dr. Lee 89T was in honor of Craddock, Bandy Professor of Preaching and New Testament, Emeritus, in thanksgiving for Craddock’s legacy of teaching homiletics at Candler. Bishop Kwon announced Dr. Lee’s gift during remarks at Candler’s Centennial Convocation on Oct. 24. Both men traveled from South Korea to Atlanta for the occasion, with Bishop Kwon bringing official greetings on behalf of the international community.

International students from 13 different countries currently make up 8 percent of Candler’s enrollment, and more than three-quarters of the international student body is from South Korea.

Candler’s ties to South Korea include relationships established by former dean and Emory president James T. Laney, who served as a missionary there before embarking on a career in academia; he later served as the U.S. ambassador to South Korea.