Hyundai Motor Chung Mong-Koo Foundation Scholar Awarded '2020 Korea Talent Award'

PhD Candidate Minseok Kim, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of California Riverside Campus

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyewon] Kim Minseok, a scholarship student supported by the Hyundai Motor Chung Mong-Koo Foundation (currently a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of California, Riverside), has been selected as a recipient of the '2020 Korea Talent Award.'

The Korea Talent Award is a talent cultivation award system initiated in 2008 by the Ministry of Education and the Korea Foundation for the Advancement of Science and Creativity to discover outstanding young talents who will lead the country and support their growth as future pillars of the nation.

Kim, who received the Korea Talent Award this time, was selected as a foundation scholarship student in 2018 while enrolled in the master's program in Energy Engineering at Jeju National University. Through the foundation's 'OnDream Future Industry Scholarship' support, which included full tuition coverage until the first half of 2020, he completed his studies in Korea and then entered the Ph.D. program in Mechanical Engineering at the prestigious University of California, Riverside, in the second half of 2020.

Subsequently, the Hyundai Motor Chung Mong-Koo Foundation decided to support Kim's living expenses during his study abroad in the U.S. according to the foundation's overseas scholarship support regulations. These living expenses will be provided every semester until Kim completes his doctoral program locally. Through the foundation's scholarship system, Kim gained the courage to pursue his overseas advancement plan, which he might have otherwise given up, and ultimately confirmed his career path.

Scholarship student Kim Min-seok supported by the Hyundai Motor Chung Mong-koo Foundation

Kim's achievements leading to the Korea Talent Award include selection for the 'Public Technology Market-Linked Startup Exploration Support Project (Ministry of Science and ICT),' leading the technology transfer of boron nitride nanotube synthesis methods to the Cheorwon Plasma Industrial Technology Research Institute, and receiving the 'Jeju National University Best Research Award (President's Award),' among about ten other accomplishments. Additionally, as a graduate student, Kim has published six papers in SCI-level academic journals from 2018 to this year and secured two patent registrations.

The Hyundai Motor Chung Mong-Koo Foundation annually selects and supports about 60 university (graduate) students in future industry science and engineering fields through the OnDream Future Industry Talent Scholarship Program, to which Kim belongs. Once selected as a foundation scholarship student, tuition and separate study support funds are provided every semester until graduation.

Kim stated, "The support from the Hyundai Motor Chung Mong-Koo Foundation greatly helped me achieve my current results, and there are many talents worthy of the Talent Award within the foundation. I hope that starting with me, more scholarship students will achieve academic success and develop into talents who contribute to society."

He added, "There was a desperate struggle to reach the limits of my potential. Through my case, I hope students from regional universities preparing to study in the U.S. will gain courage for their dreams and career paths," delivering a message of encouragement to his peers.

Hyundai Motor Chung Mong-Koo Foundation Chairman Kwon Oh-gyu said, "Following the will of Honorary Chairman Chung Mong-Koo, the founder of the foundation, the Hyundai Motor Chung Mong-Koo Foundation is making great efforts to nurture future talents. We will continue to actively find and foster talented individuals with potential in the future industry science and engineering fields who will develop our country."

Established in 2007 with a personal donation from Honorary Chairman Chung Mong-Koo of Hyundai Motor Group, the Hyundai Motor Chung Mong-Koo Foundation operates under the brand 'OnDream' to serve as a ladder of dreams and hope in accordance with the founder's philosophy of social contribution, carrying out diverse and specialized activities in future talent development, support for marginalized groups, and promotion of culture and arts.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.