Global Korea Scholarship Master's Student, Malory Bedoya Rodriguez, from Colombia Shares His Journey of Studying Politics and Management of STI at Korea University, South Korea

Currently a Colombian business analyst.Business manager by profession, but illustrator by passion. I’ve doubled between careers since 2019, and have recently returned to Colombia after 9 years in South Korea. My most recent degree was in Politics and Management of STI, and my life looked pretty different before I applied. Right after graduating from International Business at EAFIT University, I fell in love with the dynamic environment of the startup models. By the next year, I had been involved with 2 different projects and had made my way into an interesting field of Technology Transfer, landing an interesting spot in the very first project my city, Medellin, had had for creating its very own OTS satellite.

The city, globally famous in those days for its innovation ecosystem, turned heads with a risky proof of concept and a successful stratospheric test. Unlike the satellite itself, which was archived as a momentarily hit, the findings and lessons learnt would leverage my participation in a very disputed scholarship in Asia: KGSP (Korean Global Scholarship Program) for a Master’s Degree in one of Korea’s most important institutions from the SKY: Korea University. This ambitious project opened a larger door for research in a local university, and that’s where I stepped in. I considered that further guidance on how to apply this technology, from a further developed economy, could help redefine the way we apply the concept to our local needs and get the government's attention and funds for longer-term projects. A few know this, but South Korea was a leader in OTS satellite launches and had some valuable knowledge about it. I linked our need with their sources, and my thesis proposal was born. This is how I ended up living on the other side of the world for my Master’s. The other 6 years I extended my stay, that’s another story.

Global Korea Scholarship Details

KGSP (Korean Global Scholarship Program) for Graduate student. Institutio: NIIED. Colombian promotion, 2016. All tuition fees are covered for the Korean Language program of the first year, and for the 2.5 years of the Master’s Degree at Korea University.  Flights, and a monthly stipend of  900.000 Won, plus NHS (healthcare) coverage.

Educational Background

International Business at EAFIT University, 4.15/5. I studied an international program that offered 50% of the syllabus in English and the opportunity to share classrooms with exchange students. The program itself and the university’s environment opened my vision for possibilities, nurtured my leadership and capacity for networking, and allowed me to strengthen my resourcefulness and confidence when pursuing goals and making decisions.

How Did You Prepare to Apply to Korea University?

How Did You Find Information About the GKS Scholarships and Korea University?

Thanks to all the information provided by NIIED and the profiled universities on their websites

Did You Take Any Standardized Tests?

TOEFL, If So, How Did You Prepare for Them? Mock tests will help to know the structure of the exam, which allows for concentration on our skills and promptness in the answers.

How Did You Prepare to Apply to the GKS Scholarship?

By assisting someone else in their application (which was successful), I had a lay of the land before putting together mine. Reading thoroughly and being organized since the start can give you an edge. Having all the paperwork organized, along with the requirements, is the first filter, which unfortunately many fail at by not being careful with the details.

How is (was) Your Experience at Korea University?

Good! I was supported along the way. And they had activities and helped with programs for their scholars to explore and connect more with the culture. Being in such a different country is a challenge in itself, but having your minimum expenses covered and people to turn to when you have questions is a very good base to enjoy the experience more and focus on your studies.

How Do You Rate Korea University Academically and Why?

Unfortunately, the program I applied to and the one I was placed in were different. Maybe a miscommunication on their part, that the program I signed up for was not open to foreigners. Nonetheless, they allowed me to take credits from other departments to complement the main courses. And most of the teachers were understanding of our language limitations. The program has a great structure, but it could be much better if more content about industry and business case studies were included.

Are Your Classes Conducted in English or Korean? 

Most were in the country’s native language, but the professors accepted that I turned in papers or made my contributions in English. For communicating with classmates, I had to do it in Korean.

What Did You Pursue After the Scholarship? (Work, Further Study, Research, or Something Else?)

I had to stay during the pandemic, so I had to take whatever job I could take faster to survive. Which strayed me from my field and led me to illustration. But nowadays I’m coming back to my field and have landed a job I would have dreamed of fresh out of college. I’m working remotely as a Business Analyst for a software company, where I have the chance to apply most of my skills and share projects with a multicultural team.

Would Potential Students Have Any Problems Academically Not Knowing Korean?

I personally recommend that students learned Korean before applying, at least until the intermediate level. That would give them an advantage. Not just when applying to the scholarship, but in their studies/life in Korea. Understanding the language goes along way to navigate their culture.

What Do You Think Made Your Application Stand Out?

My thesis proposal and my record of social skills. The proposal was about a topic I was clearly passionate about. And the academic world requires fresh perspectives on how to apply knowledge to the real world, solving real problems. That proposal got me an interview, and my social skills (openness and capacity to connect) got me the spot.

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

Nothing, I think that scholarship application process was full of wins. Not because I was the most skillful applicant, but because I informed myself as much as I could, I enjoyed it every step of the way, and I entered that contest believing in myself 100%, before the institution did.

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

Read a lot! Read the current application guidelines, the story of the scholarship, and find the local institutions that have cooperative bonds with the country. Understand the dynamics locally by asking other students that won the scholarship in past years. And whatever you do, please do read everything before asking them questions. Also, make sure this is what you want. Governments and programs invest a lot of resources, and that scholarship you’re second-guessing, some other student would give their lives for. And if you’re that student, also take your time to select the universities you’ll apply to and the program.

In SK, not everything is about the SKY. There are plenty of great Korean universities that offer a program that suits your needs best. And finally, study their culture, values, and rules. Not only to fall in love with the country or to fit, but to be respectful of the institutions that will give you this opportunity. In general, when you are convinced and enjoy the process, interviewers can tell, and that makes you a great candidate, greater than the ones with impressive academic records.