(c) Overseas Koreans Agency

The Overseas Koreans Agency (OKA) has hosted a networking event connecting scholarship recipients with seniors to support young overseas Koreans in their studies and career planning in South Korea.

The OKA and the Overseas Koreans Cooperation Center announced on the 26th that they held their first roundtable discussion for 27 recipients of the "Overseas Korean Youth Academic Support Program," which was launched this year, at the Shilla Stay Seocho in Seoul.

Students from various regions, including the United States, China, and the CIS, attended the event to share their experiences and concerns regarding academic life, living in Korea, and career paths.

Notably, senior scholarship recipients who previously participated in the OKA scholarship program and are now settled in jobs at domestic companies joined as mentors. They offered practical advice on navigating university life, preparing for careers, finding employment, and adjusting to life in Korea.

The mentors emphasized the importance of maintaining strong academic records and improving Korean language proficiency for successful employment in Korea. They also recommended actively engaging in internships, extracurricular activities, and various programs offered by the OKA. Furthermore, they encouraged students to rely on the scholarship recipient network for mutual support rather than trying to overcome challenges alone.

The OKA gathered feedback and suggestions from the students regarding their studies and daily lives, planning to incorporate these insights into future scholarship operations and settlement support policies.

Lee Ki-seong, Director General of the Overseas Koreans Policy Bureau, stated, "The scholarship program is more than just financial aid. We will continue to provide comprehensive support for academic success, career development, and settlement so that talented young overseas Koreans can learn and grow to realize their dreams in South Korea."