Providing Tuition, Airfare, and Health Insurance Support to Foreigners Studying North Korea and Unification

Ministry of Unification's 'Overseas North Korea and Unification Studies Academic Exchange Support Project'
Full Tuition, 2 Million KRW Living Expenses, Actual Health Insurance Fees Covered

President Moon Jae-in is seen embracing Chairman Kim Jong-un, who is returning to North Korea, after meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump (right) at Panmunjom on the afternoon of June 30 last year.

The Ministry of Unification and Gyeongnam National University announced on the 30th that they are recruiting participants for the 'North Korea and Unification Studies (Master's and Doctoral) Scholarship and Fellowship' program for foreigners.

The North Korea and Unification Studies Research Fellowship is part of the Ministry of Unification's 'Overseas Academic Exchange Support Project in the Field of North Korea and Unification Studies.' It was launched this year for the first time to expand the base of overseas researchers related to the Korean Peninsula unification and North Korea, amid the growing importance of public diplomacy for peace and unification on the Korean Peninsula.

The purpose is to correct distorted perceptions and misunderstandings of the international community regarding the Korean Peninsula issue and to cultivate so-called 'pro-Korean' scholars who understand Korea's position.

This project consists of scholarship support for master's and doctoral degree programs specialized in the field of North Korea and Unification Studies and a long-term fellowship program. The Institute of Far Eastern Studies at Gyeongnam National University and the University of North Korean Studies were selected as executing institutions in 2020.

The North Korea and Unification Studies Research Scholarship supports applicants for the North Korean Studies master's and doctoral programs offered by the University of North Korean Studies for up to three years. It covers tuition fees (full), living expenses (2 million KRW), round-trip airfare (actual cost), national health insurance fees (actual cost), and initial settlement allowance (700,000 KRW).

The North Korea and Unification Studies Research Fellowship, provided by the Institute of Far Eastern Studies, offers continuous research programs such as special lectures by top domestic North Korea experts and current and former high-ranking policymakers, field workshops, and seminars for emerging researchers interested in Korean Peninsula issues for about six months to one year. It provides living expenses (2.3 million to 3 million KRW), round-trip airfare (actual cost), national health insurance fees (actual cost), and initial settlement allowance (1 million KRW).

The number of selected participants is about 10 per year. Applications are accepted from April 1 to May 20, 2020, and the final participants and scholarship recipients will be confirmed through a review by a committee composed of the Ministry of Unification, executing institutions, and external reviewers.

The Ministry of Unification stated, "Through this project, we will discover and nurture overseas researchers who can view peace and unification issues on the Korean Peninsula from the perspective of the Korean Peninsula, thereby creating an international environment favorable to inter-Korean peace and unification."

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