Most international students who come to KDI School are generously sponsored by various scholarship programs. KDI School itself offers two scholarship opportunities – the Seoul G20 Global Leader’s Fellowship (full tuitionm, higher monthly stipends, round-trip airfares) and the Global Ambassador Scholarship (full tuition, monthly stipends). The former is offerred to public officials at the division head level or those with over six years of professional experience while the latter is open to all overseas students.

KDI School also has other external scholarship offers including the KOICA scholarship (full tuition, monthly stipends, round-trip airfares; for government officials recommended by KOICA), POSCO Asia Fellowship (full tuition, monthly stipends, round-trip airfares; for government officials from Asia), KOGAS Global Fellowship (full tuition, monthly stipends, round-trip airfares; for candidates from KOGAS designated countries), NIIED GKS-KGSP (full tuition, monthly stipends, round-trip airfares; for NIIED eligible candidates), IDB-KLSP Scholarship (full tuition, monthly stipends, round-trip airfares; for government officials from Latin American and Caribbean countries), FSS-KFB-KDIS Scholarship (full tuition, monthly stipends, round-trip airfares; for government finance officers from Asia), Colombo Plan Scholarship (full tuition, monthly stipends, round-trip airfares; for government officials recommended by the Colombo Plan), and the KOICA-MDI Scholarship (full tuition, monthly stipends, round-trip airfares; potential researchers for the Myanmar Development Institute). Once the candidates pass the very competitive screening process and arrive in Korea, they’re often taken through orientation by their sponsors. For instance, KOICA has an orientation session that gathers all KOICA sponsored students coming to Korea. In my case, as a POSCO scholar, I had the unique opportunity to visit POSCO’s steel mill in Gwangyang and the Suncheonman Bay area.

On May 26, Anggita Hayu NOVIANTI (2016 MDP, Indonesia) and myself took the bus down to Gwangyang along with other POSCO scholars in Korea. At the Gwangyang steel mill (the largest steel mill in the world), we learnt about the company’s management philosophies – integrity, fairness, and trust. POSCO arranged a workshop among all POSCO scholars to discuss their experiences in Korea. In front of the Chairman of POSCO TJ Park Foundation, which hosts the POSCO Asia Fellowship program, I was given the chance to present my own experience in Korea. In all, eight scholars made presentations, four of which were from Korea and four of which were from overseas. Such interaction between young and talented Korean and overseas people is the purpose of the POSCO scholarship. By the end of the workshop, I was able to make friends from Yonsei University, Sogang University, and Ehwa Women’s University. Following the visit to POSCO’s Gwangyang steel mill, we headed over to Suncheonman Bay on the next day. Covered by coastal wetlands, Suncheon Bay located in Suncheon-si has functioned as a natural ecological reserve to protect local wildlife and ecosystem from pollution.

Suncheonman Bay is especially renowned for the flocks of migratory and other native birds it attracts. With an abundant source of food, thanks to its pristine natural environment, there are 220 bird species and 25 endangered animal species inhabiting its waterways.

Now, if you plan on visiting Suncheonman Bay privately walk along Palma-ro street across Suncheon Bus Terminal towards the bus stop. Then, take bus number 67 and get off at Suncheonman Bay. Tickets cost KRW 8,000 per person and the Bay is closed on Mondays, Seollal (Lunar New Year’s Day), and Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving Day). Spotted not far from the ticket entrance, visitors will come across the Suncheon Bay-Eco Museum. The Museum will satisfy your curiosity over what types of flora and fauna lives in the Bay. Sucheonman Bay Ecological Park also has Yongsan Observatory which takes roughly 40 minutes on the walking trail and gives you a breathtaking panoramic view of the Bay that features a golden wave of reeds.

Another way of taking a trip through Suncheonman Bay is by taking a boat ride. For just KRW 7,000, you will be given a 6km round-trip through the wetland without the hike up the mountain. You will have an opportunity to view the extended mud flat, reed colonies, and migratory birds from up close.

My trip to Gwangyang and Suncheonman Bay helped me interact with other POSCO scholars and deepen my understanding about Korea and its people. I’m sure I’m not alone in feeling that the scholarship opporunities at KDI School and the opportunities it provides is a blessing. I hope all scholarship groups can participate in such activities to improve their experience in Korea.

By Arifenie FITRI NUR (2016 MPP, Indonesia)