DAEJEON - South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has committed to implementing new financial support measures for students in science and engineering fields, announcing the provision of stipends for graduate students and an expansion in scholarship offerings.
According to Yonhap News Agency, located 139 kilometers south of Seoul, the initiative aims to boost the country's scientific and technological competitiveness by nurturing talent.
The support program will offer stipends to full-time graduate students engaged in state-funded research and development projects. Master’s degree students will receive at least 800,000 won (approximately $600) monthly, while doctoral candidates will be entitled to a minimum of 1.1 million won. President Yoon described the introduction of these stipends as the fulfillment of a two-decade-long aspiration within the scientific community.
In addition to the stipends, the government plans to increase the total scholarship funds by 130 billion won this year. This expansion will extend the presidential science scholarships, previously exclusive to undergraduate students, to include graduate students as well, with each recipient receiving an average of 25 million won annually.
The announcement was part of the 12th debate session focused on the livelihood issues of the public, covering a broad range of topics from transportation to housing and medical reform. President Yoon also outlined his vision for Daejeon, aiming to enhance its stature as a "science capital." He pledged to improve the city's connectivity and accelerate urban development, including plans for burying railroads underground and introducing an express train service linking Daejeon with Sejong and Cheongju. These efforts are intended to foster collaboration with Sejong's administrative functions and Cheongju's bio and semiconductor industries.