On June 8, the Gyeongbuk Provincial Government announced that it has selected 45 international scholarship students for the 2025 Gyeongbuk-type Invitation Scholarship Program (K-GKS), an increase of 12 students compared to the 33 selected last year.
K-GKS (K-Global Korea Scholarship) was first implemented in 2024. The program supports not only two-year master's and three-year doctoral degree courses, but also, if necessary, a one-year Korean language training course. Its purpose is to attract outstanding international students in science and engineering fields and encourage them to settle in the region.
In particular, by focusing on attracting talent in science and engineering, the program aims to help these students grow into local industrial professionals in fields such as new materials and biotechnology after graduation, thus contributing to their settlement in the region.
In 2024, 33 scholarship students were selected from four universities: Kumoh National Institute of Technology, Andong National University, Daegu University, and Pohang University of Science and Technology. This year, through an open call in January, Gyeongbuk National University Sangju Campus and Yeungnam University were additionally selected, bringing the total to six universities and 45 students.
Each university plans to actively support not only academic pursuits but also long-term settlement and community engagement, based on their research capabilities and international student support systems.
In particular, the selection criteria for scholarship students were restricted to international applicants who graduated from overseas undergraduate or master's programs in science and engineering fields, with a converted score of 80% or higher, in an effort to attract top talent.
The students selected this time come from 19 countries, including Mexico, India, Indonesia, and Nigeria, and have applied to a variety of science and engineering majors such as mechanical engineering, software, and horticulture.
During the scholarship period, students will receive support for airfare upon entry, tuition (or language training fees), and study incentives. After graduation, they will be provided with employment linkage through each university's career support center or through companies and research institutes with which the universities have signed MOUs.
Jung Sunghyun, Director of the Local Era Policy Bureau at the Gyeongbuk Provincial Government, stated, "Through the selection of this year's K-GKS scholarship students, we aim to attract outstanding global talent who can contribute to the development of local industries, and we will continue to provide comprehensive support to ensure their stable settlement in the Gyeongbuk region."
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