Dior CEO gets Ewha honorary doctorate as top Korean business leaders attend

Delphine Arnault, CEO of Christian Dior, is about to get a very Korean welcome. On Thursday, 12 November, she receives an honorary doctorate in business administration from Ewha Womans University in Seoul, and a crowd of business leaders is expected to be there.

The ceremony takes place in the morning at Ewha's Kim Young-ui Hall. The university says it chose Arnault for her management skills and leadership in the global fashion industry, her support for training the next generation, and because her work fits the school's goal of helping women grow as leaders.

According to business circles, Hyundai Group chair Hyun Jung-eun is attending. Lotte Group chair Shin Dong-bin, Shin Yu-yeol of Lotte Biologics and Lotte Holdings, and Hotel Shilla president Lee Boo-jin are reportedly considering it. Some are expected to join a lunch afterwards.

The Lotte link isn't new. In May, Arnault visited Korea with her father, LVMH chairman Bernard Arnault, and Shin Dong-bin and Shin Yu-yeol accompanied them on a tour of Lotte Department Store's Jamsil branch.

In her acceptance speech, Arnault is expected to say Korea has long been very important to Dior, and that she is proud to support young women's talent and creativity. Ewha president Lee Hyang-sook said the degree should deepen cooperation between Ewha and Dior.