The King Sejong Institute Foundation (Acting President and Secretary General Choi Hyun-Seung, hereafter referred to as the “KSIF”) offers a range of scholarship programs that enable KSI learners to study Korean, pursue academic studies at Korean universities and experience life in Korea firsthand. These programs are designed to support learners throughout their journey, from beginning their Korean studies at a King Sejong Institute (KSI), to further developing their language skills through training and study in Korea, to ultimately returning to their home countries as ambassadors of Korea and its culture.

66 Scholarship Recipients Pursuing Studies at Korean Universities
The KSIF has two major scholarship programs: the KSIF Scholarship Support and the Outstanding Learner Support. The KSIF Scholarship Support targets current or former KSI learners who wish to pursue scholarship opportunities at Korean universities, either for language training programs or degree programs. Under this program, the KSIF recommends qualified candidates to partner universities in Korea that have expressed a willingness to provide support, but each university conducts its own final selection process. The KSIF is responsible for reviewing applications and recommending candidates, while specific benefits such as scholarships and dormitory accommodations are based on each university’s scholarship scheme. This program provides KSI learners with a valuable opportunity to experience both academic life and daily living in Korea, where they can further deepen their understanding of the Korean language and Korean culture. In 2025, a total of 85 candidates were recommended to universities through recruitment in the first and second halves of the year. Among them, 48 were ultimately selected as scholarship recipients and are currently pursuing studies at Korean universities.

The Outstanding Learner Support Program offers scholarships to learners who achieve exceptional results in the annual Korean language speaking and writing competitions for KSI learners. Finalists from these competitions are selected as Outstanding Learner Scholarship recipients and receive support for two semesters of language training at a Korean university. The scholarships cover tuition, dormitory fees, and round-trip airfare. In 2025, a total of 12 recipients were selected for the Outstanding Learner Scholarship, with some scheduled to begin their studies in Korea in the spring semester of 2026.

Contributions from Universities, Institutions, and Companies
The KSI scholarship fund is based on contributions from Korean universities, external organizations, and corporate sponsors. For example, the Hangeul Nuri Foundation provides living expense grants to selected KSIF scholarship recipients. The KSIF recommends candidates according to the criteria of each sponsor, and the sponsors make the final selection. Support for the Outstanding Learner Scholarship from corporate partners such as KB Kookmin Card and Hancom fills gaps not covered by university funding, ensuring that no learner is left without assistance. Fully funded by external sponsorship, the KSIF’s scholarship programs enable recipients studying in Korea to focus on academics and cultural experiences in a stable environment.

At the end of each year, the KSIF hosts a Sponsor Appreciation Night where it invites participating universities and companies to express its gratitude for their contributions to the advancement of Korean language education. At last year’s event, KSI graduates and winners of the Life in Korea Video Competition had an opportunity to engage with supporting organizations.

Scholarships That Kept Learners from Giving Up
The impact of the KSIF’s mission is most clearly seen through the journeys of its current scholars in Korea. Jovana Koplić, an alumna of KSI Novi Sad in Serbia, began her academic career this March as a Computer Science major at Dongseo University in Busan. “While studying in Korea has its challenges, this scholarship has been an invaluable source of strength and motivation,” Jovana shared. “It has empowered me to persevere in both my Korean language studies and my major.” She also expressed her aspirations for the future: “I hope to gain diverse experiences in Korea and continue to improve in both the Korean language and my field of study. In the long run, I hope to serve as a bridge connecting Korea and Serbia.”

Uông Huyền Bảo Trân is from Vietnam. She began learning Korean at KSI Bien Hoa and is currently enrolled in the Korean language program at the Sungkyunkwan University Language Institute. She said, “I feel truly honored and grateful to have been selected for a KSIF scholarship. I see it as a meaningful recognition of the effort I have put in, and I hope to develop my Korean language skills even further while living in Korea for around six months.” She also shared her plans: “Through my time here, I hope to deepen my understanding of Korean society and culture and begin mapping out a more concrete career path related to Korea.”

The KSIF will continue to operate its scholarship programs so that more Korean language learners can experience life and study in Korea and go on to pursue their dreams around the world.