The Korean Education Center in New York held the 2026 Korean Honor Scholarship certificate presentation ceremony at the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in New York on Tuesday, Nov. 3. Ten of the 79 applicants were selected, including top scholar Esther Seo (Carnegie Mellon University). The top scholar received $5,000, and each of the other recipients received $1,500.
The Korean Education Center in New York (Director Shin Mi-kyung) held the certificate and scholarship presentation ceremony for the 2026 Korean Honor Scholarship (KHS) on Tuesday, Nov. 3, at the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in New York in Manhattan. Scholarship recipients selected from the region under the center's jurisdiction were invited.
The center received 79 applications in July, which went through regional review by an external selection committee. Ten recipients, including one top scholar, were then chosen in the final round through central review by the Korean Embassy in Washington. The top scholar is Esther Seo of Carnegie Mellon University, and nine others, including Lee Ji-ho of Princeton University, were selected as scholarship recipients.
$5,000 for Top Scholar, $1,500 for Others
At the ceremony, Consul General Kim Sang-ho, on behalf of Ambassador to the U.S. Kang Kyung-wha, presented the certificates to the recipients, giving $5,000 to the top scholar and $1,500 to each of the other recipients.
In his congratulatory remarks, Kim said, "I congratulate you on your efforts and achievements, having been selected through fierce competition, and I ask you to remember that behind today's honor lies the dedication of the family members and teachers who quietly supported you." He went on to say, "Now that Korea-U.S. relations are entering a new turning point, with global interest in K-culture and growing Korean corporate investment in the United States, you, who understand both Korea and the United States, are a precious bridge connecting the two countries." He urged them, "Please become leaders of a virtuous cycle by giving back to the Korean American community and younger generations in the future."
About the Korean Honor Scholarship
The Korean Honor Scholarship is a fund created in 1981 with a $1 million contribution from the Korean government to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Korea-U.S. diplomatic relations. After several additional contributions, it is now worth about $2.9 million and is run by the Korean Embassy in Washington. Its purpose is to support outstanding Korean American students attending U.S. colleges and graduate schools and to cultivate the next generation of leaders for the Korean American community and Korea. It had produced 3,555 scholarship recipients as of 2025.