A laboratory microscope on a black work surface in a research facility.

South Korea Check current round

Hyundai Motor Chung Mong-Koo Foundation Scholarship

The Chung Mong-Koo Foundation — funded by the late Hyundai Motor Group Chairman — offers one of the most generous private scholarships in Korea. It covers full tuition fees, a monthly living stipend of KRW 1.5 million, return airfares, and Korean-language tuition for international students at Korea's top universities (SNU, Yonsei, Korea, KAIST, POSTECH). Sri Lankan applicants are eligible alongside other internationals. Awards are made via the partner universities — students apply for admission first, then the university nominates strong candidates to the Foundation.

Open for March 2026 / September 2026 intakes — nomination by host Korean university (typically 2-3 months before intake)

Chung Mong-Koo Foundation (tenable at Korean universities)

External Organization-funded

emoji_events Award Overview

paid

Tuition

100% covered

savings

Stipend

KRW 1.5M / month (~USD 1,100)

flight_takeoff

Travel

Return Airfare + Settlement

school

Duration

Full degree (UG, Master's, or PhD)

info How this award actually works

warning

This is a separate, highly competitive application

Awards from external organisations like this one run their own selection round against applicants from across the world, and success rates are usually in the low single digits. Lanka Scholar does not administer it and cannot submit it for you. Treat it as a bonus on top of a funded study plan — never as the plan itself.

account_balance

Who awards it

Chung Mong-Koo Foundation (tenable at Korean universities) — not Lanka Scholar. We are not the awarding body and cannot grant, reserve or guarantee this award.

how_to_reg

How you are considered

Through a separate application round run by the funder, with its own forms, deadlines and shortlisting. You submit it yourself — it is not part of a university admission application.

payments

What it covers

Full Tuition + KRW 1.5M/month Stipend + Flights. Read the terms carefully: even fully-funded awards rarely cover every cost, and any shortfall is yours to fund.

handshake

Where we come in

We help you judge whether this award is worth your time, and build a realistic admission plan that works whether or not you win it.

fact_check Eligibility Criteria

public

International (Non-Korean) Citizen

Open to international applicants enrolled (or about to enrol) at a partner Korean university. Sri Lankan citizens are eligible — apply through the host university's international office.

school

Strong Academic Record

Sri Lankan undergraduate applicants need 3 A grades at A/L (or IB 36+). Master's and PhD applicants need first-class Bachelor's / distinction Master's with strong research orientation.

savings

Financial Need or Leadership

Selection balances academic merit with financial need OR demonstrable leadership. The Foundation explicitly seeks candidates who would otherwise struggle to afford Korean tuition or who show clear leadership potential.

gavel

Korean-Language Engagement

Awardees commit to learning Korean and engaging with the Foundation's alumni and Hyundai Group cultural-exchange events. This is a soft commitment but actively monitored.

account_tree Application Process

Apply to a partner Korean university

Submit your admission application to one of the partner Korean universities (SNU, Yonsei, Korea, KAIST, POSTECH, Hanyang, Sungkyunkwan) by their international deadlines. Most close 1-2 months before the relevant intake.

Indicate scholarship interest

On the international student application, tick the Chung Mong-Koo Foundation Scholarship box and submit any required supplementary documents (financial-need declaration, leadership statement).

University nomination

The host Korean university's international office nominates a small number of strong international applicants to the Foundation each cycle. Selection is academic-merit and need / leadership weighted.

Foundation final decision + visa

The Foundation reviews nominated candidates and announces decisions about 6 weeks before the intake. Successful awardees use the offer for the D-2 student visa application via the Korean Embassy in Colombo.

About the Chung Mong-Koo Foundation

Established in 2007 by the late Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Mong-Koo, the Foundation funds education, social welfare, and cultural exchange across Asia. The international scholarship is one of its flagship programmes and has supported students from over 25 countries.

Since 2007

Foundation Established

25+

Countries Represented

7+

Partner Korean Universities

Looking for a scholarship because of the cost?

Then start here instead. Scholarships are competitive, usually partial, and decided by someone else — they are the least reliable way to make studying abroad affordable. Your destination and course choice move the number far more, and both are entirely within your control.

calculate