The good, the bad, and the after

As I was thinking about what else to share on this blog, I remembered the Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) guidelines will be uploaded in a couple of months. There’s always a lot of uncertainty about the process, but also the aftermath of being selected. In this post, I don’t want to focus only on the application and guidelines because plenty of people are talking about it already. I also want to talk about the positives and negatives in my experience, what happens after you’ve been selected, and even what happens after the scholarship ends.

I was a 2021 GKS awardee after applying for the second time. The first year I completed the Korean Language Program at Suncheon National University in Suncheon city and moved to Seoul to study for my Master’s degree at Yonsei Graduate School of International Studies. I moved back to Mexico a couple of months ago after obtaining my graduate degree and deciding to look for opportunities in another place.

During my time in Korea, there were many instances when people came to me for advice about all aspects of studying and living abroad. More recently, in the past few months, several people have contacted me about my experience with the GKS so I feel like even if I can’t answer all the questions, maybe I can point someone in the right direction, or help clarify some of the least common doubts.

Let’s start with the application process. The guidelines had some major changes in the past few years, so I can’t give precise information according to my experience since it doesn’t apply anymore. Also, as I stated before, many other blogs and people are discussing this part, but I do want to mention some relevant points:

• Prepare your documents in advance. You need to submit a lot of documents for this scholarship and not all of them might be easy to get on short notice. Although it might be possible for you to submit everything from the moment the guidelines are posted to the deadline, you would be rushing a lot and possibly making a mistake with the documents or even with your decisions. I would advise preparing many months in advance to make sure you have all the correct documents, and you have researched enough about the options and what is best for you. The scholarship will be there the next year and your chances of getting it will improve if you take your time to prepare the application, not to mention that some of the documents requested can be very costly so it’s best to spend that money when you are sure you have the best application possible.
• Be realistic about your University choices. People often want to apply to the best Universities in Seoul, but the competition is high and your chances of getting accepted are lower. If you truly want to attend one of the top Universities make sure that it’s because they have the program that you want to attend or the resources that you will need for your career plans. A good university alone is not enough insurance that you will get what you are looking for, so make sure to choose your University based on what is truly helpful for your plans and not just what has the best reputation or the coolest city.
• Don’t give up after the first time. For example, I initially applied to Ewha Woman’s University and was rejected, but decided to give it another shot. The next year I applied and was accepted to Yonsei University, which is considered even more competitive. My experience is not the only one, I heard of a large number of people who got accepted on their second and third try so it is definitely possible. Focus on improving your profile and application each year, and rethink your University choices if you feel it’s necessary.

The good

Now moving on to what I consider as “the good”. The GKS is a great opportunity for people to study abroad with a variety of benefits, and for many like myself, it is the only way they can afford to study outside of their country. As many issues as I encountered with the scholarship and overall during my time in Korea, I can’t deny that I would not have been able to study a complete Master’s degree and live abroad independently had it not been for the GKS.

• The scholarship. I did extensive research on full scholarships for studying a graduate degree abroad and found the GKS to be one of the most complete, hence why it is so popular and competitive. However, I think that if you truly want to study in Korea or at a specific University, it’s worth applying due to its various benefits.
• The Korean Language. if one of your interests is learning Korean and truly immersing yourself in the language then this is a great opportunity to do so. Not only does the scholarship cover the one-year-long Korean Language Program, but you will also live in the country for three years, giving you a considerable amount of time to perfect your language skills. Some people apply for English programs which can affect their mastering of the language, but just by living in the country, you can find ample opportunities to improve your skills. On the other hand, people who apply to programs taught fully in Korean will have a bigger chance to improve the language beyond the Korean Language Program year.
• Multicultural environment. As the name says, the GKS is a global program so you will meet people from all over the world during the application process and once you arrive in Korea. The opportunity to meet people from different cultures and backgrounds was one of the best parts of this experience for me. I met some of my best friends while in Korea and had the chance to explore the world through others’ words, which I would have never experienced if I had stayed in Mexico. You can meet all types of people during this program and that is part of the beauty of being an international student. Probably not all interactions will be nice, but the good will outweigh the bad and you will learn from it all.
• Professional and Personal growth. This is a scholarship to further your studies, so you will inevitably grow professionally through your studies or other work opportunities. I learned so much with my master’s program but also through the experiences of volunteering and participating in all types of events. Additionally, the experience of living and studying abroad will give you great personal growth through the challenges you will face and the achievements you’ll make. I can say for certain that my time in Korea helped me grow as a person in diverse aspects, and I saw many other awardees change their lives throughout the program.

The bad

People often want to know the bad before anything else and they make a choice based on it. However, I think that for people wanting to study abroad, these negative points are not limited to Korea, you can encounter them in any country. Don’t let this small list be the only determinant of your choice, but also don’t dismiss them as non-consequential. You might find some of these to pose not much trouble for you, or maybe one of them is truly a non-negotiable for your situation; everything is relative to what you are looking for and what you are willing to handle. Having said this, here is what I consider as “the bad”:

• Paperwork. This is not easy anywhere, paperwork can be tiring, confusing, and frustrating no matter which country you are in. The issue I found in Korea most often was that they follow the guidelines pretty strictly, so if you encounter a problem or question that is not within them you won’t get any help from the staff in charge and you’ll find yourself scrambling for a solution that will somehow be accepted within those mentioned guidelines. Be prepared to receive “I don’t know” as an answer, and solve those issues as quickly as possible.
• Programs are not always as advertised. Unfortunately, universities offering one program online and the reality being completely different weren’t a few isolated cases. Whether it is the language of the program changing, some classes not being offered as advertised or even a program completely disappearing, I saw all these situations happen to other people arriving to study in Korea. Of course, some changes are unpredictable, but it is best to directly contact the University and department you are interested in to confirm the information about the program you are applying to, don’t rely solely on the information on their website.
• Language can always represent a setback. As much as it is a positive, a completely new language can also represent many challenges. Surely you can survive with English if you are vacationing in Korea, but if your goal is to live/study there for a longer term you absolutely need to have the basics of the language. For some people learning Korean or another language comes very easily, but for others, it can become their biggest hurdle and make it impossible to go onto the graduate program. If you have no knowledge of the language I would advise you to start learning the basics before you arrive in Korea, on the worst-case scenario it could help you realize maybe it is not something you can take on.

• The monthly allowance can be insufficient. Depending on the city you are living in, the allowance can be good enough or insufficient. In my case, I lived well enough during my first year in Suncheon, but when I moved to Seoul there were many months when I struggled to make ends meet. The NIIED (Government agency in charge of GKS) has increased the scholarship twice in “recent” years, but in my opinion, the changes came too late and they weren’t enough for all students across the country. If you are counting on the scholarship to be your only economic support, you might have to consider working too or having some savings in case of emergencies.

The after

The application process is one big challenge, yet once you are accepted and move to Korea you will find yourself facing brand-new and unexpected challenges. I have already mentioned some situations that might occur during the program, but as the experience of living there is pretty unique to each person, so are their trials. Nevertheless, there are some points I believe are important to point out:

• Health. During the three years of the program, you are likely to get sick at least once and you might encounter a completely different health system than the one in your country. Going to the doctor can be scary, I know it is for me sometimes, but the Korean health system is pretty straightforward once you get used to it. I had good and bad experiences, and some were quite awful to be honest. What I suggest is preparing a script in advance so you won’t miss anything and always ask questions, twice if needed. You will have to advocate for yourself often and request tests or better explanations. Don’t expect doctors to speak English because they most likely won’t unless you are going to an English-speaking clinic. Overall, be prepared for anything, and if you can get a second insurance, do so.
• Discrimination exists. Social media tends to push a very polarizing idea of what it is like to live in Korea as a foreigner, the truth is much simpler: Korea has discrimination like every other country does. I suffered discrimination for being a foreigner a few times so I know it happens and some people are more likely to face it depending on the stereotypes that are stronger in the country. But I have also suffered discrimination in my own country, so Korea is not an outlier. I will say, however, that Korea remains a mostly homogenous society and you can definitely feel it if you look different.
• Explore new things. This is a very simple point, Korea is a country that has a lot to offer in culture, entertainment, food, and many other things. Make the best of your time and try new things, learn something new, and enjoy everything Korea has to offer! For many people getting the GKS, it is their first time leaving their homes and there’s a lot of uncertainty about facing something new. But, explore what is out there, and don’t end your time in Korea thinking about what you could have done.
• After the scholarship. Whether you decide to stay in Korea or leave after the end of the scholarship depends greatly on your situation and plans. The reality is that there is a saturated job market for foreigners so finding a job will not be easy in most cases, but don’t let that stop you. People often change their minds during the program and even right at the end, it is really up to each person. I will say that compared to older generations, I did notice more people returning home at the end of my program in August 2024.

I tried to share as evenly as possible some positive and negative points, yet the question I get asked often is “Was it worth it?”. For me, the simple answer is that in the end it was, and the complex answer is that it depends on each person. I know that’s a pretty cliché response but it is the truth or the closest to the truth. If I try to give a more specific answer, I can say that if you are interested in learning Korean or about Korea, or if you want a scholarship that covers most aspects of living abroad then the GKS is worth it.

Final thoughts

Finally, I’ll share some recommendations and useful links for anyone interested in applying to the GKS.

• This is not for everyone. I saw plenty of people give up during the application process and even a few others after arriving in Korea, but there’s nothing wrong with that. If all this process is too much for you then maybe you can wait and try the next year. If you are selected, but when you arrive there you find out it was not what you wanted or needed, then you are in your right to renounce the program and go back. I’m not saying you should give up on any small setback because then I’m sure 90% of the people would have dropped out, but no one knows you better than you know yourself, so consider that when you are going through this process. Furthermore, and I say this with all due respect, if you are not even able to look up on your own information as simple as where to read the guidelines, where to translate your documents, or how to send a package through mail, amongst other similar doubts; you are probably not ready to live on your own in a foreign country with a language you don’t speak. You will continuously encounter such problems and bigger ones once you are in Korean and you will have to solve them on your own, so be aware of your capacities and limitations.
• Reach out to other people applying. The application process can be stressful and confusing, so it’s better if you don’t go through it alone and have more people to share your doubts and next steps with. Therefore, I recommend joining Facebook groups; WhatsApp, or similar apps group chats; and contacting people who are in the same process as you are.
• Do your own research. It’s good to hear other people’s ideas, but if you are selected for the scholarship you will go alone and face most of the difficult situations alone too. Do your own research and choose what is best for you. Check out these links and be prepared for the new guidelines in 2025:
  • If this is your first time hearing about the scholarship you can find the basic information here: http://www.niied.go.kr/user/nd35203.do
  • Guidelines are posted on the StudyinKorea website around the first months of the year so keep an eye open for new posts on the GKS notice board: https://www.studyinkorea.go.kr/ko/scholarshipmain.do

There is so much to talk about the GKS and living or studying in Korea, so I will likely write another post about it, but please let me know if you want me to write another piece on a specific topic.

If you have questions or comments about what I wrote here or what wasn’t included, don’t hesitate to comment or even contact me through my LinkedIn/email and I will do my best to answer.

Best of luck to everyone applying!

Disclaimer: Everything I wrote here is based on my knowledge and experience. I do not claim to have all the answers or the complete truth about the Global Korea Scholarship.