Hangoul Choi

Education

B.A./Theology – Yonsei University (2014)

M.Div. – Candler School of Theology, Emory University (2018)

S.T.M. – Yale Divinity School (2024)

Biography:

Hangoul (pronounced Han-Gyear / 한결) was born and raised in South Korea within the Korean Methodist Church. Her research is deeply informed by her experiences as a woman navigating questions of power, biblical interpretation, and their influence on women’s self-image and mental health.

She critically examines patriarchal and misogynistic concepts within the Bible and investigates how certain interpretations can perpetuate harm or violence, particularly against women and girls. Passionate about integrating biblical studies with ethnography, Hangoul grounds her research in women’s lived experiences, seeking to understand how faith, identity, and power intersect in real-life contexts.

Her diverse ministry experiences have significantly shaped her academic journey. She has served as a resident chaplain at Emory University Hospital, an educational pastor in Korean immigrant churches, and a refugee program manager in Thessaloniki, Greece.

Outside of her academic work, Hangoul is a proud mom of a vibrant, funny, and energetic preschooler. She is excited to begin her journey at Fordham, where she looks forward to exploring her research interests more deeply and becoming rooted in collaborative learning cohorts and community.

Research interest

Biblical literalism; fundamentalism; evangelicalism; gender-based violence in religion; feminism; feminist interpretation of the Bible; ethnography; marriage ethics; rhetorical criticism; ethnography; mental health; psychology

Publications and Awards

Master Thesis: “Rhetorical Analysis of Ephesians 5:21–33 and ‘Mutual Submission’: The Rhetoric of Wifely Submission in Korean Churches and Ethical Concerns for Women’s Mental Health”, Yale Divinity School (2024)

Korean Government Scholarship Program for Overseas Study, Ministry of Education, South Korea (2022–2023)

Claude H. Thompson Award, Candler School of Theology (2018)