Today in Korean history

May 31

1886 -- Ewha Womans University is established in Seoul on the initiative of Mary
Scranton, an American missionary from the Methodist Episcopal Church. The
school's name, Ehwa, was bestowed by Korean Emperor Gojong.

1895 -- Emperor Gojong issues an order to use the Korean language for official
documents, which were previously written only in Chinese.

1948 -- The National Assembly of southern Korea, established earlier that year
separately from northern Korea, appoints Syngman Rhee as its first speaker. Rhee
became South Korea's first president in July that year.

1996 -- The world's football governing body, FIFA, decides to have South Korea
and Japan co-host the 2002 World Cup.

1998 -- North Korea and the United States hold a goodwill basketball game in
Pyongyang.
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