Yeongnam Saemaeul Scholarship Foundation Awards 258.5 Million KRW in Scholarships to 274 Juniors Over 20 Years

Choi Oechul Leads Establishment as President of Yeungnam University

Participation by Choi Youngjae, Kim Jeongil, Kang Dongpil, and Others

The Yeongnam Saemaeul Scholarship Foundation (Chairman Choi Oechul, President of Yeungnam University) held its 18th scholarship award ceremony in Room 522 of the College of Social Sciences at Yeungnam University.

The Yeongnam Saemaeul Scholarship Foundation was established in 2003 by alumni who received the 'Saemaeul Scholarship' from the Department of Community Development at Yeungnam University (now the Department of Saemaeul International Development) to support the academic pursuits of their juniors. President Choi Oechul of Yeungnam University led the foundation's establishment in 2003 and has served as its chairman ever since.

Yeongnam Saemaeul Scholarship Foundation (Chairman Choi Oechul, President of Yeungnam University) held the 18th scholarship award ceremony on December 29 last year at the College of Social Sciences, Yeungnam University, and is taking a commemorative photo.

Since its establishment, the foundation has awarded scholarships to juniors annually. On December 29 of last year, it awarded a scholarship of 10 million KRW, and to date, it has supported 274 students with a total of 258.5 million KRW. Scholarship recipients have built their expertise in their majors and have gone on to excel in international organizations and related institutions such as the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), and the Saemaeul Central Association.

The scholarship award ceremony was attended by Chairman Choi Oechul, Choi Youngjae, president of the Saemaeul International Development Department Alumni Association, former Sangju Deputy Mayor Kim Jeongil, advisory committee member Kwon Seongdo of Jinmyeong I&C, Professor Hwang Seungil, CEO Kim Jinyoung of Palgong M&C, CEO Jeong Jaehun of Tools, CEO Kang Dongpil of Myeongpum Appraisal Office, Director Lee Kyungseop of the Kyungil University Middle-aged Technology Startup Center, as well as alumni, faculty including Department Head Lee Jaemo of Saemaeul International Development at Yeungnam University, and current students.

For the 2023 academic year, scholarship recipients were selected among students who excelled in overseas major intensive study presentations to strengthen students' global win-win development capabilities. Ten students, including Park Yeji, who received excellent evaluations for case studies and presentations on topics such as "Characteristics of Japan's International Development Cooperation," "Contents and Characteristics of Japan's Machizukuri (Community Building)," and "Characteristics of Rural Development Policies (Focusing on Japan and Korea)," were selected as scholarship recipients.

Until now, the Yeongnam Saemaeul Scholarship Foundation has provided scholarships not only to students of the Saemaeul International Development Department but also without restrictions on department or degree program. Past scholarship recipients have included graduate students from the Saemaeul International Development Department, students from the Department of Computer Engineering, the Department of Economics and Finance, as well as international students from Africa and Southeast Asia.

In his congratulatory speech, Choi Youngjae, president of the Saemaeul International Development Department Alumni Association, said, "As much as the 50-year tradition, numerous alumni are active in various fields, enhancing the department's prestige, and the Yeongnam Saemaeul Scholarship Foundation has played a significant role in the department's development. I hope the meaningful scholarship funds gathered by seniors and professors will serve as a foundation for the growth of juniors."

Kim Jeongil, former Deputy Mayor of Sangju and advisor to the Yeongnam Saemaeul Scholarship Foundation, said, "The scholarship foundation, which started with the idea of current President Choi Oechul to support the academic pursuits of juniors by graduates of the Department of Community Development (now Saemaeul International Development Department), has already reached 20 years despite difficulties. I am proud to see professors, alumni, and current students of the department gathered today, and I hope this occasion will instill pride and self-esteem in the alma mater and department among the junior students."

Chairman Choi Oechul of the Yeongnam Saemaeul Scholarship Foundation (President of Yeungnam University) said, "I thank everyone in the scholarship foundation who has helped continue this scholarship, filled with seniors' love for their juniors, for 20 years." He added, "In 2024, we plan to increase the number of scholarship awards to twice per semester and raise the fundraising goals. To commemorate the 77th anniversary of the university's founding, we will also hold a seminar on the path and future of the Yeongnam Saemaeul Scholarship Foundation. I hope current students will demonstrate their potential and move forward vigorously toward their dreams based on the scholarships filled with seniors' affection."

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