Ewha Womans University (Korean: 이화여자대학교, Hanja: 梨花女子大學校) is a private women's university in central Seoul, South Korea. It is one of the city's largest institutions of higher learning, the worl's largest female educational institute, is one of the best-known universities in South Korea, and the top women's university. Ewha was founded in 1886 by the American Methodist Episcopal missionary Mary F. Scranton.