The Gangbuk-gu Sports Promotion Council held its 16th annual scholarship presentation ceremony Tuesday at the main auditorium of the Mia-dong Complex Building, awarding a total of 22.5 million won ($15,300) to 15 young athletes from the district, the Seoul borough of Gangbuk-gu announced.
The council has funded the scholarship program since 2011 using membership dues, consistently supporting young athletes with strong growth potential. Now in its 16th year, the program has awarded a cumulative total of about 270 million won to 199 students.
This year, 25 students nominated by schools in the district were evaluated on competition results, growth potential and family circumstances, with 15 ultimately selected as scholarship recipients. The chosen students have demonstrated outstanding ability across their respective sports, earning placements at national and international competitions.
The 15 recipients, listed with their schools and sports, are: Eom Jun-hyeon (Miyang Elementary, swimming); Moon Seo-a, Jo Yun-eun and Choi Woo-hyeon (Songjung Elementary, judo); Kim Seo-ok (Susong Elementary, taekwondo); Kim Jin-woo (Insu Elementary, taekwondo); Song Ryu-hwa and Song Ji-hu (Samgaksan Middle School, shooting); Choi Jun-hyeok (Samgaksan Middle School, bicycle racing); Park Seo-yeon (Seoul Sports Middle School, modern pentathlon); Jin Min-jun (Solsaem Middle School, taekwondo); Kim Ji-hwan (Junggye Middle School, taekwondo); Hong Nu-ri (Changmun Girls' Middle School, fencing); Go Ye-bin (Changmun Girls' High School, fencing); and Choi Ha-bin (Hangwang High School, figure skating) — representing 11 schools in total.
The ceremony featured a video showcasing the students' training routines, competition appearances and personal messages of gratitude. The footage captured the dedication of young athletes pursuing their dreams and drew a strong response from parents and officials, offering a moment to reflect on the program's significance.
Choi Yong-ho, senior vice president of the Gangbuk-gu Sports Promotion Council, said he hoped the scholarships would help the students focus more fully on their training and develop their skills further. "We will continue to support the growth of local sports talent through this scholarship program, which we have sustained for 16 years," he said.
Gangbuk-gu District Mayor Jeong Chang-su said he was proud of the students for their outstanding achievements through relentless effort in their respective sports. "I am grateful to the parents and coaches who have worked hard to help these students fully develop their talents, and to the members of the Gangbuk-gu Sports Promotion Council for their commitment to this scholarship program," he said. He added that he hoped the students would not rest on their current achievements but press forward boldly toward even greater goals.
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