North Gyeongsang selects first batch of K-Global Korea Scholarship recipients

North Gyeongsang announced Thursday that it has selected the first batch of K-Global Korea Scholarship (K-GKS) recipients, inviting students to study or work in the province after graduation.

Students receiving the K-Global Korea Scholarship pose for a photo during a scholarship award ceremony held Thursday. [NORTH GYEONGSANG PROVINCIAL OFFICE]

North Gyeongsang announced Thursday that it has selected the first batch of K-Global Korea Scholarship (K-GKS) recipients, inviting students to study or work in the province after graduation.

The province selected 33 students from 15 countries to receive the scholarship, with 28 being master's students and five being Ph.D. students.

A total of 80 students applied for the scholarship.

K-GKS is a scholarship created by North Gyeongsang this year, different from the government-funded GKS scholarship. K-GKS funds students in master's and doctorate programs in science and engineering fields at four universities in North Gyeongsang: Pohang University of Science and Technology (Postech), Kumoh National Institute of Technology, Andong National University and Daegu University. Applications are submitted to the student's host university.

Selected students will receive full tuition, one-way airfare and a monthly stipend during their degree program. In exchange, K-GKS requires scholars to live, work or continue a higher degree program in the province for an additional three years after graduation.

As students are required to stay in the province after graduation, North Gyeongsang signed a memorandum of understanding with local companies such as Posco Chemical, EcoPro, PNT and Gyeongbuk Institute for Bio Industry to connect scholars to jobs after graduation.

"After working in machinery, equipment diagnosis and preventative maintenance at Posco in Indonesia, I applied for K-GKS because I wanted to gain more professional knowledge," said Ryanto Kaleb, a Postech student selected for the scholarship. "I want to complete my machine engineering master's program and even try working at Korea's Posco."

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