Hyundai Motor Chung Mong-koo Foundation selects 39 global scholars, expands support to Korean-language teachers

The Hyundai Motor Chung Mong-koo Foundation held a scholarship certificate ceremony Tuesday for 31 newly selected recipients of the CMK Global Scholarship undergraduate program, the foundation announced Wednesday.

This year's undergraduate scholars are outstanding students from Indonesia and Vietnam who will begin their studies in September at Korea University, Seoul National University, Yonsei University and Hanyang University. Earlier, on Friday, the foundation held a separate ceremony for the eight inaugural recipients of the CMK Global Scholarship Korean Language Teacher Program, a new track launched this year.

The foundation has operated the CMK Global Scholarship undergraduate program since 2024 to give talented students from the ASEAN region the opportunity to study in South Korea and to promote the internationalization of domestic universities and people-to-people exchanges between Korea and ASEAN. Starting with Indonesian undergraduates, the program expanded to include Vietnam in 2025.

Undergraduate scholars receive full tuition, a monthly academic stipend and a settlement grant. They are also invited to participate in a range of CMK Fellowship activities — including an integrated summer camp for Korean and international scholars, small-group gatherings, and Korean cultural exploration and exchange programs. Outstanding scholars will be eligible for continued support through graduate school after completing their undergraduate degrees.

The newly launched CMK Global Scholarship Korean Language Teacher Program offers foreign nationals currently working as Korean-language instructors or professors abroad the chance to receive systematic training in Korean-language pedagogy in South Korea and to experience the country's language and culture firsthand.

Working with Yonsei University's Korean Language Institute, the foundation selected its first cohort from foreign educators with at least three years of Korean-language teaching experience. The eight inaugural scholars come from seven countries: Ukraine, Vietnam, Indonesia, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Uzbekistan and Iran.

Beginning in September, the Korean-language teacher scholars will spend six months completing Yonsei University Korean Language Institute's regular Korean-language curriculum alongside a specialized pedagogy course developed specifically for this scholarship program. The foundation covers tuition, textbook costs, round-trip airfare, residential and settlement grants, and an academic stipend, and provides CMK Fellowship activities including Korean cultural experiences and scholar networking events.

"The CMK Global Scholarship is establishing itself as a global talent development program by expanding its scope and the range of people it supports," a foundation official said. "We will continue through our scholarship programs to broaden the foundation for people-to-people exchange with diverse regions, while supporting talented individuals across various fields in developing their expertise and serving as a bridge between Korea and the world."

The foundation launched the CMK Global Scholarship for international students in 2020, initially focusing on ASEAN graduate students. It has since selected more than 220 scholars and provided a total of 15 billion won ($10.9 million) in support. The program expanded to Indonesian undergraduates in 2024 and to Vietnamese students in 2025.

Meanwhile, the foundation is also actively working to nurture talent in the arts. It is hosting the "2026 CMK Artist Series" — a recital program featuring the foundation's arts scholars — at the Inchun Art Hall of the Seoul Arts Center on Tuesday, Wednesday and Sept. 1.