The Jeongdeok Foundation awarded scholarships totaling 20 million won ($13,080) to 40 high school students in Uiseong-gun, North Gyeongsang Province, on Thursday, with each recipient receiving 500,000 won.
The Jeongdeok Foundation is a nonprofit public-interest organization established in 2011 by Cho Gyu-ok, chairman of Junbang Co., who funded it with personal assets.
The foundation has carried out a range of social contribution activities, including scholarship programs, academic research grants and support for low-income households.
The scholarships were distributed across six schools: two students from Geumseong High School, five from Uiseong Girls' High School, four from Angye High School, nine from Unitech High School, 11 from North Gyeongsang Software Meister High School and nine from Uiseong High School.
Cho, the foundation's founder, said he hoped the scholarships would serve as "a small stepping stone for local talents with boundless potential as they pursue their dreams," adding that the foundation would "continue to nurture the next generation through scholarship programs and a wide range of educational support activities."
Uiseong-gun Mayor Choi Yu-cheol expressed deep gratitude to the Jeongdeok Foundation "for practicing warm generosity so that local students can focus on their studies," and pledged that the county would "do its utmost to support education so that future talents can grow through diverse learning opportunities."
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