Kyung Hee University

Photo: KHU (khu.ac.kr)

Kyung Hee University (KHU) has introduced the Special Woojung Scholarship, designed to replace the discontinued National Scholarship Type II. A total of 3.5 billion won has been allocated to this new program.

Government Funding Cut After Tuition Hike

After KHU raised tuition fees in the first semester of 2025, ending a 16-year tuition freeze, the University was excluded from the government’s National Scholarship Type II program. Unlike Type I, which is awarded directly to students, Type II is funded by the government and distributed through universities. Earlier this year, the government announced it would stop providing Type II funding to universities that increased tuition, sparking financial concerns among students.

In response, during a financial operation briefing in January, KHU pledged to fully replace the lost funding using increased tuition revenue. Of the additional 11 billion won generated from the 5.1% tuition increase, 3.5 billion won will be dedicated to the new scholarship.

The Special Woojung Scholarship

The KHU scholarship team officially introduced the Special Woojung Scholarship to replace the National Scholarship Type II. On June 17, the University awarded 1.6 billion won for the first semester, with the remaining 1.9 billion won set aside for the second semester.

The scholarship maintains the same eligibility criteria as the original Type II program: applicants must be Korean citizens, fall within income levels one to nine, and qualify for the National Scholarship Type I.

The amount awarded depends on the student’s income level. Those who previously qualified for Type II will receive the same amount under the Special Woojung Scholarship. However, students whose tuition is already fully covered by other scholarships are ineligible.

While many universities have struggled to replace the lost Type II funding, KHU has managed to fill the gap by using tuition hike revenue. The launch of the Special Woojung Scholarship is seen as a first step toward using these additional funds to enhance student welfare and invest in broader campus improvements.