Vice Minister of Justice Lee Jin Soo (left), Vice Minister of Education Choi Eun-ok (center) and Kim Sae-ryo, head of the Korean office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, on Jan. 15 display a trilateral memorandum of understanding on scholarships for refugee students in the country at Government Complex-Seoul in the capital's Jongno-gu District. (Ministry of Justice)

By Koh Hyunjeong

The Ministry of Education, Ministry of Justice and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees on Jan. 15 signed a trilateral memorandum of understanding (MOU) on supporting scholarships for refugees.

The agreement seeks to raise self-reliance among young refugees in the country by expanding their access to higher education and spreading the humanitarian value of refugee protection to the world.

Based on the agreement, the Ministry of Education will launch and run a system for refugees within the international organization track of the Global Korea Scholarship, while the Ministry of Justice will supervise their residency and institutional support. The UNHCR will help in the selection and prescreening of recipients.

The government had previously pledged to operate a refugee student program until 2027. This MOU is considered the first institutional measure to make good on that pledge.

Kim Sae-ryo, head of the UNHCR Representative in Korea, said, "The agreement will serve as a symbolic and exemplary case of Korea protecting refugees and sharing global responsibility."

hjkoh@korea.kr