Int'l students in Ulsan get help from alumnus

A University of Ulsan alumnus paid for scholarships out of his pocket to help financially troubled international students, according to the university on Wednesday. Nine undergraduate students received scholarships.

International students at the University of Ulsan who received scholarship from Kang Mun-gi, front low second from left, pose for a photo on Monday. [THE UNIVERSITY OF ULSAN]

A University of Ulsan alumnus paid for scholarships out of his pocket to help financially troubled international students, according to the university on Wednesday.

Nine undergraduate students received scholarships. One from Myanmar got 1 million won and three from Nepal, two from Vietnam, and one each from Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and Uzbekistan got 500,000 won.

The alumnus is 57-year-old Kang Mun-gi, who is head of the university’s alumni association. He graduated with a degree in industrial engineering in the 1980s. After he heard about the international students’ financial troubles, he decided to help out.

“I hope the scholarship help those who want to make their dream come true in Korea,” said Kang.

Khin Zar Chi Han, a junior majoring in Korean literature, is an orphan and has had a hard time getting money from her home country of Myanmar due to its turbulent political situation. She really wanted to continue her education, the school added.

Genevieve Hniang Hluan Par, a junior from Myanmar majoring in business administration, said she was “delighted” with the generosity.

“I was working two part-time jobs because I wasn’t able to get my tuition from home because of the coup there,” she said. “I’m so thankful.”

Other recipients include Nuraliev Sanjar, a global business major from Uzbekistan, and Train Thi Na from Vietnam.

“The selected students focused on their own studies and also mentored fellow international students who are on academic probations,” said the university. It currently has 257 international students studying for undergraduate degrees.

Khatri Mishra from Nepal was chosen for a scholarship because she's suffering from tuberculosis.

Many of the student hope to find jobs in Korea or study for higher academic degrees, the university said. University of Ulsan President Oh Yeon-cheon said they will be able to go far if they excel in Korean language and culture studies.

BY BAEK KYUNG-SEO [kjdnational@joongang.co.kr]