Jinju City Holds 3rd Future Generation Happiness Fund Operation Deliberation Committee Meeting

Appointment Ceremony and Committee Meeting Held
Deliberation on Selection of Scholarship Recipients for Summer Overseas Advanced Culture Exploration Program

Jinju City, Gyeongnam Province, announced on the 22nd that it held the appointment ceremony for members of the '2025 3rd Future Generation Happiness Fund Operation Deliberation Committee' and a committee meeting in the Situation Room on the 5th floor of City Hall.

The newly formed committee, established due to the expiration of previous members' terms, consists of 10 members, including the Deputy Mayor as chairperson, experts in education and scholarship projects, and relevant public officials. The newly appointed members will serve for two years, during which they will deliberate on matters related to the fund's operations, including operational plans and settlements for the Future Generation Happiness Fund, as well as the selection of scholarship recipients.

Following the appointment ceremony, the committee meeting was held to deliberate on the selection of scholarship recipients for the '2025 Jinju City Outstanding Student Overseas Advanced Culture Exploration Program' to be held during the summer vacation.

Group Photo of Jinju City’s ‘2025 3rd Future Generation Happiness Fund Operation Deliberation Committee’

The Outstanding Student Overseas Advanced Culture Exploration Program, which began during the 2023 winter vacation, is now in its fourth round. This year, the number of participants has been increased, and 55 students have been recommended from 18 high schools in the city to participate in the overseas program.

To qualify for the scholarship, students must rank within the top 7% of their class in the previous semester and have resided in Jinju City for at least one year. Selected students will have the opportunity to visit Ivy League universities in the United States, tour the United Nations Headquarters and the Capitol, visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art, attend a Broadway musical, and participate in various activities designed to enhance their global competencies and career development during the July summer vacation. All expenses will be fully covered by the city.

Since 2021, Jinju City has awarded scholarships totaling 1.02 billion won to 1,174 students, using interest from the 50 billion won Future Generation Happiness Fund established between 2019 and 2022. The Outstanding Student Overseas Advanced Culture Exploration Program has been held three times, with 130 students visiting prestigious universities and experiencing cultural activities in the United States.

This year, the city has allocated a total budget of 1.585 billion won to promote scholarship programs and regional education development projects.

Meanwhile, starting this year, Jinju City has expanded its scholarship program by adding a category for students from multicultural families to the existing categories, which include academic excellence, welfare, multiple children, special talents, and regional specialization.

To support basic learning for children from multicultural families and improve their adaptation to public education, the city plans to provide a total of 50 million won in scholarships to 100 elementary, middle, and high school students. Applications for the Future Generation Happiness Fund scholarship will be accepted in September, with recipients selected through a review process and scholarships awarded in November.

Additionally, starting this year, the city plans to implement a Youth Global History and Culture Exploration Scholarship Program for 20 local middle school students. The program aims to broaden students' horizons and foster historical awareness by providing opportunities to explore historical and cultural sites in Asia during the summer vacation.

A Jinju City official stated, "Student satisfaction with the overseas advanced culture exploration programs held during school vacations is very high. Many students have shared that experiencing the Statue of Liberty, the UN, Van Gogh's artwork, and attending special lectures at Harvard and MIT in person, rather than just through books or television, has greatly helped them with their career planning." The official added, "We will do our utmost to ensure that students can broaden their international perspectives and take a step forward through diverse political, economic, and cultural experiences offered by the overseas culture exploration programs, making the project both meaningful and substantial."