How I Secured a Fully Funded Master's at Pusan National University, South Korea Through the Global Korea Scholarship

My name is Camila Painefilo, and I am from Temuco, Chile. I graduated in Business Administration from Universidad de Santiago de Chile, and later pursued a Master’s degree in Management Information Systems at Pusan National University in South Korea. Coming from a city far from the capital of Chile and becoming the first person in my family to complete a master’s degree is something very meaningful to me.

During my undergraduate studies, I had the opportunity to complete an exchange semester at Korea University Business School. That experience helped me understand Korean academic culture both inside and outside the classroom, and it also made me more interested in Korea as a place to continue my studies. Later, after I started working, I realized that many business tasks were shifting toward automation, digital transformation, data-based decision-making, and tools such as Power BI. Since most of my work experience was related to digital transformation, automated reports, and process improvement, I understood that having business knowledge was important, but understanding technology and how it is reshaping markets was becoming essential. This is why I decided to pursue Management Information Systems.

Global Korea Scholarship Details

I received the Global Korea Scholarship, also known as GKS. It is a scholarship offered by the Korean Government through NIIED. In my case, the scholarship included round-trip airfare, tuition fees, Korean language training, and monthly living expenses.

The program usually consists of one year of Korean language education, followed by the degree program. The monthly stipend can vary depending on the year and whether the student is in the language program or already in the degree program, so I would recommend future applicants to check the most updated official guidelines. As a reference, for the first semester of 2026, the monthly stipend was 1,400,000 Korean won.

Were You Offered Any Other Scholarships?

During my graduate studies, I also received support through Brain Korea 21, also known as BK21. It is a Korean government-funded program that promotes graduate research. This support helped with living expenses (1,000,000 won per month) and, in some cases, conference-related expenses.

Educational Background

I completed my undergraduate degree in Business Administration at Universidad de Santiago de Chile. During my studies, I tried to build a strong academic profile while also gaining practical and international experience.

I graduated with a GPA of 6.4 out of 7.0 and received recognition for having the best annual academic performance in my degree program. I also worked as a teaching assistant for two courses. In Linear Algebra, I taught exercise sessions to help students solve practice problems. In Introduction to Business Administration, I supported students with their reports and business projects.

I also worked part-time during weekends and holiday seasons, mainly in retail-related jobs, such as promoting air conditioners, heaters, and beauty or cosmetic products. Although these jobs were not directly related to my academic field, they helped me become more responsible, independent, and aware of how businesses interact with customers in real settings.

My educational background prepared me for Management Information Systems because Business Administration gave me a strong understanding of how companies work, while my work experience helped me see how technology, automation, and data are changing business processes. I realized that modern management increasingly requires not only business knowledge, but also the ability to understand and use technological tools.

I also had international academic experiences before applying to GKS, including an exchange semester at Korea University Business School, an online summer school program at Münster School of Business, and a Korean Studies online summer school program. These experiences helped me become more confident in international academic environments and strengthened my interest in studying in Korea.

How Did You Find Information About Global Korea Scholarship and Pusan National University?

I found information about scholarships and institutions mainly through official sources, such as embassy websites, scholarship program websites, and university websites. Since I was looking for fully funded opportunities, I paid special attention to what each scholarship covered, the eligibility requirements, the application documents, and the deadlines.

For GKS, I focused on reading the official guidelines carefully from beginning to end and checking the information provided by the Korean Embassy in Chile and the Korean institutions involved in the process. I also found it useful to join social media groups where other applicants shared their experiences, but I used them only as a complement. If something in the guidelines was unclear, I preferred to contact the institution directly.

I applied through the Embassy Track. At that time, applicants could choose up to three universities, and at least one of them had to be located outside the Seoul metropolitan area.

Did You Take Any Standardized Tests? If So, How Did You Prepare for Them?

Yes, I took IELTS and TOPIK. For IELTS, I prepared mostly by practicing with previous tests so I could become familiar with the structure, timing, and flow of the exam.

For TOPIK, I used a similar strategy. I practiced with past exams, reviewed common vocabulary, and paid attention to the types of questions that appeared frequently.

When I applied, I had IELTS Band 8 and TOPIK Level 2.

How Did You Prepare to Apply for the Global Korea Scholarship?

It has been several years since I applied, so I do not remember every detail, but I would say my preparation was a long process. Before receiving GKS for graduate studies, I had previously applied for the undergraduate GKS and became a backup candidate. Even though I was not selected at that time, that experience motivated me to prepare a stronger profile for the future.

In a way, I spent my five years of undergraduate studies preparing to become a better candidate. I focused on maintaining good grades, gaining meaningful experiences, participating in international programs, working as a teaching assistant, and understanding how the scholarship application process worked.

For the final stage of my application, I contacted a previous GKS scholar to ask for advice on how to improve my essays and prepare for the interview at the Korean Embassy in Chile. I also asked friends to review my essays. That helped me a lot. Sometimes, when you write your own essays, you understand the message you want to convey, but it is not always clear whether another person will understand it in the same way. Having someone external review your application can help you make your essays stronger and clearer.

The document preparation was also one of the most stressful parts. At that time, the process involved official translations, notarization, and apostilles. It took time and also required money, especially for translations. Since the process may have changed since I applied, I would recommend future applicants to check the most updated guidelines carefully.

How is Your Experience at Pusan National University?

My experience at Pusan National University was very meaningful. The Global Korea Scholarship is granted by the Korean Government, but the actual experience can depend a lot on the university and on the office in charge of supporting GKS students.

In my case, the experience was positive. The university provided orientations, helped us with visa and ID card procedures, and had staff members who supported international students and GKS recipients. There were also offices dedicated to international students, including support for visas, courses, and scholarship-related matters.

Academically, the experience was challenging but valuable. Most of the courses in my major were conducted in Korean, so not fully mastering the language made the process more difficult. However, it was not impossible. It required effort, patience, and a lot of adaptation.

During my master’s degree, I joined a research lab, participated in national and international conferences, and had the opportunity to grow as a researcher. I presented at four national conferences and one international conference. I also received research-related recognition, including a best research paper award and a third-place award in a smart tourism-related competition.

For my master’s thesis, I studied what makes online product reviews helpful for other consumers. I focused on e-commerce reviews and analyzed not only the text of the review, but also whether the review included images and the quality of those images. Methodologically, I combined deep learning and machine learning models with QCA, so I could both predict review helpfulness and understand which combinations of factors make a review useful. In simple terms, I wanted to understand whether people find a review more helpful because of what it says, how it says it, and how visual information supports the buying decision.

How Does Pusan National University Support International Students?

Pusan National University has an office dedicated to international students. In my experience, there were staff members who supported students with visa-related matters, courses, and scholarship-related procedures. There was also support specifically for Global Korea Scholarship recipients.

In my case, the university helped us understand important procedures, including immigration-related processes such as visas and residence cards. They were also available when students had questions. Of course, experiences can vary depending on the university, department, and staff in charge, but overall I felt supported.

Are Your Classes Conducted in English or Korean?

In my major, most classes were conducted in Korean. I only had one major course in English. I also had the opportunity to take some courses in English from other areas or departments, but this required approval from the relevant office and my advisor.

So, for my specific program, the main language of instruction was Korean.

What Did You Pursue After the Global Korea Scholarship?

This is still a question I am navigating, since I have recently completed my master’s degree and am preparing for graduation. For now, my plan is to work.

I think it is important to mention that both the scholarship organization and the university provide opportunities that can help students improve their professional profile if they decide to work in Korea after graduation. For example, there are job fairs for international students, programs to improve resumes, and other career-related opportunities.

At the same time, the experience of being in a research lab, presenting at conferences, and being exposed to academic opportunities also helps students who may want to continue studying or doing research in the future.

Would Potential Students Have Any Problems Not Knowing Korean?

Yes, depending on the university and major. This would not be the same for every Korean university or every program, but based on my experience in Management Information Systems at Pusan National University, not knowing Korean can make the academic experience more difficult.

However, I would not say it is impossible. It depends on the student, the department, the available courses, and the support system around them. Still, I would strongly recommend learning as much Korean as possible before arriving, because it can make both academic life and daily life much easier.

What Do You Think Made Your Application Stand Out?

I think one of the things that helped my application was that I already had experience living and studying in Korea. My exchange semester helped me show that my interest in Korea was not superficial, but based on a real academic and personal experience.

Another important point was the way I connected my background in Business Administration with digital transformation and Korea’s technological development. I tried to show that receiving the scholarship would not only benefit me personally, but could also help me bring knowledge and ideas back to Chile, especially in relation to digital transformation and the use of interconnected systems and technology in organizations.

I believe many applicants are strong academically, so beyond grades, it is important to explain your story clearly: why this country, why this field, why this scholarship, and how your experience can create value beyond yourself.

What Would You Have Done Differently if You Were Going Through the Process Again?

I would have studied Korean more before arriving. Learning a language that is very different from your native language takes time, and not everyone has the money to pay for academies or private classes. Still, I think that having a stronger language foundation before arriving would have made my experience even richer, both academically and personally.

What Advice Would You Give Those Looking to Apply for a Similar Scholarship?

My main advice is to start preparing before the scholarship application period opens. A strong application is usually built little by little, through your academic performance, experiences, language preparation, and the way you connect your background with your future goals. In my case, my grades were important, but so were my exchange experience, teaching assistant roles, work experience, and interest in Korea and digital transformation.

I would also recommend reading the official guidelines very carefully and using social media groups as a complement, not as the only source of information. If something is unclear, contacting the institution directly can save you a lot of stress and help you feel more confident during the process.

Finally, I think it helps to learn about the country, the university, and the field you are applying to, because that allows you to explain your goals in a more personal and genuine way.