Hyun Jung-eun, Shin Dong-bin and Lee Boo-jin among business leaders expected to attend

Delphine Arnault, CEO of Christian Dior, visits the main branch of Lotte Department Store in Sogong-dong, Seoul, on May 11. [Herald DB]
Delphine Arnault, CEO of Christian Dior, visits the main branch of Lotte Department Store in Sogong-dong, Seoul, on May 11. [Herald DB]

Delphine Arnault, CEO of Christian Dior, will receive an honorary doctorate in business administration from Ewha Womans University, with a number of prominent business figures expected to attend the ceremony.

According to industry sources, Arnault will receive the degree Thursday morning at Kim Young-eui Hall, the university's music building.

Ewha Womans University said it decided to confer the degree in recognition of Arnault's leadership and management capabilities in driving the global fashion industry, her contributions to nurturing the next generation of talent, and her alignment with the university's educational vision of advancing women. Dior and Ewha signed a partnership in March 2022 aimed at developing the next generation of women leaders.

Arnault is expected to deliver an acceptance speech on the importance of South Korea to Dior's business and the significance of the honorary degree.

Born in 1975, Arnault is the daughter of Bernard Arnault, chairman of LVMH. She served as senior vice president of Louis Vuitton from 2013 to 2023 before becoming the first woman to serve as chairwoman and CEO in the history of Christian Dior Couture. She accompanied her father on his visit to South Korea in May, touring major department stores in the country.

Hyundai Group Chairwoman Hyun Jung-eun is expected to attend the ceremony. Lotte Group Chairman Shin Dong-bin, Lotte Biologics co-CEO and Lotte Holdings future growth division head Shin Yu-yeol, and Hotel Shilla President Lee Boo-jin are also reportedly considering attending. Shin Dong-bin and Shin Yu-yeol joined Arnault's party on a visit to Lotte Department Store's Jamsil branch during her trip to South Korea in May.

Some of the business figures attending the ceremony are expected to join a luncheon afterward.

"We hope this honorary degree will serve as an opportunity to deepen cooperation between Ewha and Dior," university President Lee Hyang-sook said, "and add new momentum to nurturing future talent who will make their mark on the world stage."

Ewha Womans University has previously conferred honorary doctorates on former Finnish President Tarja Halonen, former Irish President Mary McAleese, former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, former German Chancellor Angela Merkel and primatologist Jane Goodall.


soho0902@heraldcorp.com