– Aiming for establishment by September next year, with headquarters in New York
– Full tuition waiver and scholarship support for descendants of Korean War veterans enrolling in BIC (Busan International College)
Attendees of the ‘UN Scholarship Foundation (UNSF) for Descendants of UN Forces Who Fought in the Korean War’ Preparatory Committee take a commemorative photo at Tongmyong University in Nam-gu, Busan, on the 17th.
Tongmyong University is moving forward with plans to establish the ‘UN Scholarship Foundation (UNSF)’ to support the descendants of UN forces who fought in the Korean War.
On the 17th, President Chun Ho-hwan of Tongmyong University announced, “We will establish the UNSF to provide full tuition waivers and scholarship support for the descendants of Korean War veterans who enroll in Busan International College (BIC) at Tongmyong University.”
President Chun emphasized, “Providing educational opportunities to the descendants of UN forces is our moral obligation and the highest form of tribute to those who served.”
The UNSF is scheduled to be established in New York by next September, with President Chun and the president of the U.S. Veterans Association serving as co-chairs. Representatives of veterans from the 22 countries that participated in the Korean War will be appointed as directors of the UNSF.
In addition to scholarship support, the UNSF plans to assist the descendants of UN forces in obtaining permanent residency in Korea, allowing them to settle in the country through skilled immigration. The foundation will also introduce a UN university program to support the education of these students. The funds necessary for the UNSF will be raised through public donations. To promote fundraising, Tongmyong University plans to operate lifelong education programs that meet international demand and hold fundraising events.
At the UNSF Preparatory Committee meeting held at Tongmyong University, Lee Hak-choon, Honorary Professor of Dong-A University, was appointed as General Secretary, Ed Lee (Lee Eung-chul) was appointed as U.S. General Secretary, and Son Bu-kyung was named Secretary-General.
Professor Lee commented, “We plan to introduce a UN university program at BIC to nurture descendants of UN forces as experts in international procurement and trade.”
Ed Lee, a Korean-American who served in the Afghan War, stated, “We will establish a network of successful descendants of veterans in the U.S. to lay the foundation for the UNSF.”
Meanwhile, BIC at Tongmyong University, where the descendants of UN forces will enroll, is a specialized international college for foreign students. BIC was established this year as part of Tongmyong University’s ambition to become a global education hub, with 615 students from 15 countries currently enrolled.
