SK Chairman Chey Tae Won Encourages Scholarship Recipients: "Remember the Benefits Received from Society and Embrace Responsibility"

Scholarship Certificates Presented to 26 Overseas Students
Support Continues for a Second Generation Since the Late Choi Jong Hyun
Over 5,000 Scholars Selected and Supported Unconditionally

"Everything in this world has been made possible because someone sacrificed and worked hard for the future. I hope you will remember the benefits you have received from society and carry a sense of mission and responsibility, just as the saying goes, 'When you drink water, remember the one who dug the well'-the spirit of 'Eumsusaweon'."

SK announced on the 25th that Chairman Choi Tae Won presented scholarship certificates to students heading overseas for study with the support of the Korea Foundation for Advanced Studies, and offered these words of encouragement. The ceremony, held the previous day at the SK Seorin Building in Jongno-gu, Seoul, was attended by 26 overseas scholarship recipients, Kim Yooseok, CEO of the Korea Foundation for Advanced Studies, and other foundation officials.

Choi Tae Won, chairman of SK and chairman of the Korea Foundation for Advanced Studies, is taking a commemorative photo with scholarship students at the overseas study scholarship certificate award ceremony held on the 24th at the SK Seorin Building in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by SK

Choi, who also serves as chairman of the Korea Foundation for Advanced Studies, said in his remarks, "You might think that you are recognized and supported solely because of your own abilities, but if everyone in society thought that way, this society could not exist. Please remember that you have reached your current position thanks to the support and benefits provided by society."

He continued, "I hope you will carry on the foundation's underlying mission of nurturing talent to contribute to society, and that you will grow into towering trees that foster new ecosystems and nurture others." Choi advised, "Achieving your goals will require a great deal of effort and self-reliance, but above all, maintaining your health and stamina so you do not tire during the long marathon of academic pursuit is most important."

Finally, Choi emphasized, "You must know how to give back what you have received from society, and if this becomes your natural philosophy, your life will become much richer."

The Korea Foundation for Advanced Studies is a public interest foundation established in 1974 by the late founder Choi Jong Hyun, based on the belief of "planting trees for ten years and nurturing people for a hundred years"-the philosophy of "Sipnyeonsumok Baeknyeonsuin."

Reflecting its commitment to nurturing outstanding talent, the foundation's name does not include the company name or the founder's pen name. The foundation supports outstanding Korean students to complete doctoral programs at top global educational institutions, covering not only university tuition but also full living expenses for five years, all without any mandatory obligations.

Since its founding 51 years ago, the foundation has supported around 5,000 scholarship students through overseas and special university scholarship programs, and has produced over 1,000 PhDs from leading universities worldwide. Even during crises such as the 1997 financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic, the foundation continued its support so that scholarship recipients could focus on their studies without worry.

After succeeding the late founder, Choi Tae Won became the second chairman of the foundation in 1998. In addition to existing scholarship programs, he has expanded the foundation's activities to include exchanges with leading academic institutions worldwide and knowledge-sharing initiatives for youth. Recently, he has also focused on nurturing new talent suited to the changing times. To this end, the foundation has revamped its undergraduate scholarship program to go beyond simple tuition support, emphasizing the development of intellectual leaders with creative and convergent problem-solving skills through a variety of lectures, discussions, and team projects.