1.8 million won per recipient; 5.7 billion won given to 3,227 students since 2012

A scholarship recipient (center) selected for the Sangmidang Happy Scholarship poses for a photo with a Paris Baguette Cafe Seocho Station franchise owner and a representative of the Happy Foundation at the store. [Sangmidang Holdings]
A scholarship recipient (center) selected for the Sangmidang Happy Scholarship poses for a photo with a Paris Baguette Cafe Seocho Station franchise owner and a representative of the Happy Foundation at the store. [Sangmidang Holdings]

Sangmidang Holdings' Happy Foundation announced Tuesday that it has awarded a total of 270 million won ($202,000) in scholarships to 150 university students selected for the second semester of this year's Sangmidang Happy Scholarship program.

The recipients include 120 university students working at stores under Sangmidang's brands — Paris Baguette, Baskin-Robbins, Dunkin' and Pascucci — along with 30 students selected through the Korea Student Aid Foundation. Each recipient received 1.8 million won, equivalent to 50 percent of the national average university tuition.

The program was launched in 2012 at the initiative of Chairman Heo Young-in, who sought to help young people working at the company's stores pursue their goals. Awards are made every semester to university students balancing work and study. Since its founding through this semester, the program has supported a cumulative 3,227 students with about 5.7 billion won in total.

"We hope this scholarship encourages young people who are working while preparing for their futures," a Sangmidang Holdings official said. "We will consistently support them so they can plan their careers and build their futures without worry."


andy@heraldcorp.com