A Generous Donation of 930 Million KRW for 930 Students...
"Planting Hope from the Moment of Admission"
Cumulative Donations Reach 9.5 Billion KRW...
"Commitment to Fostering Local Talent"
Students Say, "Financial Burden Eased, Motivation for Learning Increased"...
Positive Reactions on Campus
Woo Ohhyun, Chairman of SM Group, has awarded scholarships to all incoming freshmen at Yeoju University. On June 16, Yeoju University announced that Chairman Woo had donated 930 million KRW in scholarships. This donation is part of SM Group's "Future Talent Development Scholarship" program. Woo also serves as the chairman of Dongsin Education Foundation, which operates Yeoju University.
The scholarships are being provided to all 930 freshmen, regardless of academic performance or qualifications, with each student receiving 1 million KRW. The university explained, "The purpose is to enhance students' motivation for learning and lower the barriers to educational opportunities through financial support." This unprecedented approach of awarding scholarships at the beginning of enrollment is being praised for reducing the burden on freshmen and helping them settle into university life more smoothly.
The total amount Chairman Woo has donated under the "Future Talent Development Scholarship" from 2022 to this year has reached 4.2 billion KRW. In addition, he has contributed 3.3 billion KRW to development funds and 2 billion KRW to educational infrastructure, bringing his cumulative donations to 9.5 billion KRW. This is considered a leading example of regional university support initiatives promoted by SM Group.
Chairman Woo stated, "I hope this scholarship will serve as a solid first step for students to pursue their dreams, going beyond mere financial support," and added, "I will continue to support Yeoju University so that it can become a leading institution for nurturing talent in the Seoul metropolitan area."
The response from scholarship recipients has also been enthusiastic. A freshman on the Yeoju University soccer team said, "By using the scholarship to purchase sports equipment, I was able to ease the financial burden on my parents. I could truly feel how much this support means for my future." A student in the Department of Health and Medical Administration commented, "Thanks to the scholarship, I was able to focus more on my studies and set new goals to become a globally competitive professional."
A university official stated, "Through continuous and meaningful donations, we are creating a university model that grows together with the local community. We hope this will spread as a best practice linking individual student growth with regional development."
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