Korea Student Aid Foundation Selects 1,500 SOS Scholarship Recipients as a Reliable Support in Times of Hardship

300,000 Won Provided Monthly for 10 Months

The Ministry of Education (Minister Choi Kyojin) and the Korea Student Aid Foundation (Chairman Bae Byungil) announced on the 27th that they have selected 1,500 recipients for the 2025 'Lottery Fund Dream Ladder Scholarship Program' SOS Scholarship.

The SOS Scholarship is a national scholarship system funded by the Ministry of Economy and Finance's lottery fund, designed to support students facing urgent crises-such as wildfires, flood disasters, a guardian’s unemployment or business closure, or illness-so that they can continue their studies without interruption.

Korea Student Aid Foundation

The number of recipients has steadily increased each year since the program was introduced in 2020, with 1,500 students selected again this year. The number of recipients grew from 50 in 2020, to 200 in 2021, 600 in 2022, 1,000 in 2023, and 1,500 in 2024.

This year, 3,531 students applied for the scholarship. External expert evaluators, recommended by education offices nationwide, comprehensively assessed each applicant’s academic plans and the urgency of their need for support, ultimately selecting 1,500 scholarship recipients. Each recipient will receive a total of 3 million won, distributed as 300,000 won per month for 10 months, provided in the form of card points that can be used for academic purposes.

In addition to the scholarship, various forms of support are provided to help students continue their studies in a stable environment, including mental health programs such as psychological assessments and one-on-one professional counseling.

Bae Byungil, Chairman of the Korea Student Aid Foundation, stated, "I hope the Lottery Fund Dream Ladder SOS Scholarship will serve as a strong support for students facing difficulties, providing them with the opportunity to focus on their studies without disruption."