-The Ministry of Education (Deputy Prime Minsiter and Minister of Education, KIM Sang-kon) and the National International Institute fo Education (NIIED, President, SONG Kidong) announced the graduation of 446 scholars in the Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) Program from 57 universities.

This year, graduates are from 107 countries, which include Asia (199 scholars, 45%), Europe (93 scholars, 21%), Africa (87 scholars, 20%), and Central/South America (42 scholars, 9%).

-Since 1967, GKS has invited and supported talented students around the globe to come to Korea and study in Korean universities. The aim of the program is to strengthen the mutual cooperation between countries and to build a global network.

Korea has invited about 800 scholars each year since 2013, and about 3,200 scholars from 150 countries are currently attending more than 80 univerisites in Korea.

Out of the total 3,850 GKS graduates, many of them are now influential leaders in their home country, including Ministers, professors, entrepreneurs, journalists, public officials, and so forth.

-The Korean Ministry of Education will hold a farewell party at NIIED for those scholars who will be heading back to their home country after their graduation in August 2017.

Adane Tilahun Getachew from Ethiopia said, "although it was not easy living in Korea away from my family for the past four years, I am thankful for Korean professors and friends who have supported me to successfully finish the Ph.D program."

Huryk Nicholas Paul from the United States expressed his appreciation for the scholarship opportunity and indicated, "As an adoptee, I did not have an opportunity to learn Korean. GKS has helped me to realized my dream to learn and embrace the Korean culture and language."

-CHOI Yeonghan, Director-General of the International Education Cooperation Division for the Korean Ministry of Education noted, "Korea has made the Miracle on the Han River come true, and has become a recipient-turned donor country."

He further added, "these GKS graduates will become significant persons in building a positive and friendly relationship with Korea, as they have experiences in Korea themselves through their undergraduate and graduate studies."

-The Ministry of Education and NIIED will continue to work together to promote GKS through various channels, and strengthen the network among GKS graduates now residing all around the world.

*unofficial translation