Establishing a 5 Billion KRW Fund Over 5 Years...
Boosting Private Sponsorships
Separate Selection Process for Students from Multi-Child Families
Gangnam District in Seoul is launching the "Gangnam-Style Scholarship Program," which provides scholarships without income requirements. Marking the 50th anniversary of the district's establishment, the initiative aims to foster talent for the next 100 years.
The Gangnam District Office explained, "Existing scholarship programs have traditionally provided educational and living expenses to low-income families based on income criteria. This new scholarship program breaks away from that convention, reflecting the unique characteristics of Gangnam District. It is designed to discover outstanding talent in various fields and encourage academic achievement, regardless of economic background."
In particular, a separate selection process has been established for students from multi-child families, who typically face a higher educational cost burden. This reflects the fact that Gangnam District has ranked first among districts in Seoul for two consecutive years in terms of birth rate growth.
The district plans to establish a scholarship fund of 1 billion KRW over five years, allocating 100 million KRW each year. The scholarship program will be sustained through interest income and private sponsorships from companies and organizations. In this first year of the program, a 100 million KRW budget has been set aside for the fund, and a total of 117 million KRW has been raised by combining 50 million KRW from the district budget with private donations.
Scholarship recipients for the first half of this year were selected through applications submitted in May. For high school students, eligible candidates included those recommended by their principals who ranked in the top 10% academically, or those who won national competitions in various fields such as arts, sports, technical skills, humanities, mathematics, or science. For university students, eligible candidates were graduates of local high schools from multi-child families (with two or more children) who ranked in the top 30% academically and were recommended by their local community center director. After review by the selection committee, a total of 73 students were chosen as scholarship recipients, including 29 high school students and 44 university students.
On June 10, the district held the "2025 First Half Gangnam District Scholarship Certificate Award Ceremony" at Daechi 2 Cultural Center. Each high school student received a scholarship of 1 million KRW, while each university student received 2 million KRW, along with a scholarship certificate. This year, a "designated donation scholarship" model was introduced, allowing donors to set specific criteria for scholarship recipients. Certificates bearing the donor's name are presented to recipients, which is expected to honor donors and encourage further private giving.
Gangnam District Mayor Cho Sungmyung stated, "This scholarship support program marks a new beginning for discovering and nurturing local talent. Through this initiative, we hope to enhance Gangnam's pride as an educational city and create a virtuous cycle where future generations give back to the local community."
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