June 30, 2023 - The Asia Foundation provided scholarships for 18 North Korean Refugee (NKR) students’ living costs to help them concentrate on their studies from having to work part-time jobs to earn money. The scholarship aims to support the students to become better equipped with modern skills for decent jobs and serve as positive examples of NKRs settling in South Korea. For two semesters from Fall 2022 to Spring 2023, 14 undergraduates and four graduates benefitted from the scholarship, totaling KRW72,000,000 ($52,600).

According to the students’ reports, the scholarship positively impacted the scholars in various ways. The students showed better academic achievements and had more opportunities to interact with peer students. The scholarship also helped with their health and developing their career plans. In addition, the scholars could spend time volunteering for others in need and had more confidence to integrate into school life and society. The students said the scholarship was utilized for transportation, food, textbooks, and other educational purposes. However, the students also mentioned that enhancing their English and writing skills is needed to catch up with schoolwork. Additional support needs are 1:1 mentoring for study and career, mental coaching, and engaging in social activities.

The Kahng Foundation approved the second year, and the scholarship will continue for the following two semesters, for Fall 2023 to Spring 2024.