WooJung Foundation awards $300,000 in scholarships to 99 international students

WooJung Education & Culture Foundation announced Tuesday that it awarded scholarships worth 402 million won ($301,600) to 99 international students.

Booyoung Group's headquarters in Jung District, central Seoul. The company's WooJung Education & Culture Foundation announced Tuesday it awarded scholarships to 99 international students. [BOOYOUNG GROUP]

WooJung Education & Culture Foundation announced Tuesday that it awarded scholarships worth 402 million won ($301,600) to 99 international students.

Booyoung Group, the construction company behind the foundation, held a scholarship award ceremony at the Korea Chamber of Commerce & Industry building in Jung District, central Seoul, on the same day.

The foundation has been offering scholarships to international students since 2008, with a total of 2,548 scholars from 43 countries having received the scholarship.

"There were times I faced financial difficulties while studying in Korea, but thanks to the support from Chairman Lee Joong-keun and WooJung Education & Culture Foundation, I was able to focus solely on my studies," said Sanjeewa Pushpakumara, a Ph.D. student studying film at Chung-Ang University. "When I return to my home country, I want to be someone who can share the love I received in Korea."

International students enrolled in an undergraduate, master's or doctoral degree program at a Korean university who are not receiving other government-funded scholarships are eligible for the scholarship.

Applications are accepted via the embassies of the students' countries twice a year.

"We hope the scholarship can financially support international students, who are living away from their families, allowing them to focus on their studies and become individuals who bridge relations between their home countries and Korea," said Chairman Lee.

BY LEE TAE-HEE [lee.taehee2@joongang.co.kr]