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Global Elim Foundation awards scholarships to international students in Korea
Lee Young-hoon, the Global Elim Foundation's chair and senior pastor of Yoido Full Gospel Church, gives a welcome address during a partnership luncheon hosted by the foundation in Jongno District, Seoul, Friday. Courtesy of the Global Elim Foundation
By Park Ung
The Global Elim Foundation awarded scholarships to 25 international students Friday as part of its efforts to support foreign students, residents and multicultural families in Korea.
"Today's gathering is not merely a meeting, but a valuable opportunity to reaffirm the longstanding friendship and mutual understanding among nations and to foster cooperation and development as we build the multicultural society of the future," Lee Young-hoon, the foundation's chairman and senior pastor of Yoido Full Gospel Church, said during a partnership luncheon at a hotel in central Seoul on Friday.
Former Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun, Standing Adviser to the ruling People Power Party Hwang Woo-yeo and Gender Equality, Family Vice Minister Shin Young-sook and ambassadors of some 20 countries attended the event.
Myanmar ambassador to Korea Thant Sin expressed pride in the scholarship recipients from his country.
"I am particularly delighted to learn that two outstanding students from Myanmar have been selected for this acknowledgment. Their success today is not only a personal achievement but also an inspiration for many more students who wish to realize their dreams through hard work and perseverance," he said.
"As the number of foreign students enrolled in South Korean universities exceeded 200,000 in 2024, I am confident that the Republic of Korea will meet its goal of attracting 300,000 by 2028."
In line with this, the foundation, established by Yoido Full Gospel Church in 2022, granted scholarships to students from 15 countries this year, recognizing their academic dedication and potential.
"I am a Ph.D. student pursuing missiology in Acts University and currently writing my dissertation on the Ghanaian immigrant pastors in the United States," Ghanaian student Ebenezer Anamang Obeng said on behalf of the recipients.
"I hope to serve in the church and also be a professor of missiology after my studies. Once again, thank you for this opportunity."
The foundation's scholarships aim to reduce financial burdens, allowing students from diverse backgrounds, including those from developing and war-torn countries, to pursue higher education in Korea.
Among this year's recipients, 38-year-old Ukrainian doctoral student Lyubava Matlay described the scholarship as a lifeline that allows her to focus on her studies without financial concerns.
A former teacher from Lviv, western Ukraine, Matlay shared her dream of working for companies that can bridge the gap between Korea and Ukraine.
“Many [Ukrainian] students focus only on European countries," she said. "I want to show them that there are Asian countries that can give them a big opportunity, like Korea."
Park Ung