Korea Expressway Corporation and the Highway Scholarship Foundation announced Monday they are accepting applications for a new housing scholarship program aimed at easing the financial burden of rent for college students from families affected by highway accidents.
About 30 students will be selected from among eligible highway scholarship recipients whose parents' registered address is far from their university.
Applicants will be evaluated based on financial circumstances and commuting distance. Those selected will receive 200,000 won ($141) per month for four months, from September through December, for a total of 800,000 won. The application period runs from Monday through Aug. 28.
The scholarship was newly established amid a sharp rise in monthly rents near university campuses and in response to the government's policy priority of strengthening housing stability for youth.
"We hope this housing scholarship program will allow students who attend universities far from home to focus more fully on their studies and preparing for the future," Korea Expressway Corporation President Yu Jeong-hun said.
Meanwhile, the Highway Scholarship Foundation has provided about 15 billion won in scholarships and other support to a total of 8,236 recipients since its establishment in 1996 through last year. The foundation has also run a range of programs — including psychological counseling and employment support — as part of its ongoing role as a social safety net for families affected by highway accidents.
smh@heraldcorp.com
