How an Algerian Scholar Earned the Fully Funded Global Korea Scholarship to Pursue a Master’s in Media Communication at Kangwon National University

Hello! My name is Yousra Feriel Drioua, an Algerian citizen currently residing in South Korea. I am a proud alumna of the Global Korea  Scholarship and a recipient of the NIIED Director’s Award, which recognizes exceptional cases among GKS scholars. I hold a Master of Arts in Media Communication and Journalism from Kangwon National University, as well as a Master of Science in Applied and Fundamental Toxicology from Algeria.

While doing internships in laboratories during my first degree, I realized I was more drawn to direct communication and working with people. Everyone around me suggested I continue with a PhD in biology, but I decided to take the risk and follow my heart. I’ve never looked back since. I’m deeply grateful to the Korean government for giving me the chance to start over. I came to Korea with zero experience in my new field, but soon found opportunities, working at a broadcast radio station, contributing to a local magazine, interning at an NGO, and more.

In 2024, I was also recognized as a Student Ambassador and Writer for JoongAng Daily’s K-Campus platform, and received awards like the TED “Future Jobs” Speech Contest prize and the Model UNESCO Best Friendship Award. These experiences helped me build confidence and made me feel like I had something to contribute.

Global Korea Scholarship Details

I received the GKS, awarded by the National Institute for International Education (NIIED). I first applied in 2019 and was rejected, but I reapplied in 2021 after strengthening my application. Key improvements included obtaining an official English test score and properly apostilling my academic documents. GKS is available for undergraduate, graduate, post-graduate, and exchange students, and is offered through two tracks: University Track and Embassy Track. I applied through the more competitive Embassy Track, which involves a first-round screening followed by an embassy interview. Successful candidates are then considered by three universities of their choice.

GKS covers round-trip airfare, a monthly allowance (about 1 million KRW), health insurance, and additional benefits for those with high TOPIK scores or research achievements. In total, you can receive around 1.3 million KRW per month. If you're proactive, you can also apply for on-campus jobs like TA, RA, or supporter roles, which help both financially and professionally. I was lucky that my university offered those kinds of opportunities for international students.

Educational Background

Switching from biology to media was the biggest challenge in my application. I didn’t have the academic foundation in communication studies, but I backed up my passion with strong extracurriculars: organizing Hallyu events, teaching beginner Korean, and participating in global youth organizations like AIESEC. These experiences demonstrated my interest in Korea and my potential in communication-related fields. Although my undergraduate GPA wasn’t the highest, I performed well during my first master’s and graduated with a GPA of about 4.0/5.0. I also gained practical experience through internships and volunteer work, showing my eagerness to grow beyond academics.

How Did You Prepare to Apply to Kangwon National University?

For my second application, I took the TOEFL and only prepared by watching YouTube videos and using a CD from the test center. I chose my university based on a recommendation from a senior in a GKS info-sharing group. He spoke highly of the school and department, and since I was seeking a quieter environment for personal healing, I avoided the highly competitive SKY universities. I picked two other schools as backups as well.

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

Thankfully, I was already familiar with the GKS structure through YouTube videos from past scholars, which made the overall process smoother. But preparing for the scholarship wasn’t cheap, so I needed to invest a lot into it financially. It involved translation fees, apostille services, multiple trips to the capital, and the TOEFL exam.

What Do You Think Made Your Application Stand Out?

I think the opening lines of my motivation letter were strong and personal enough to make the reader want to keep going. I also mentioned my Hallyu and Korea-related activities. But I really believe the turning point was the embassy interview. I had been so stressed throughout the application process, but right before the interview, I just let go and decided to be myself. I know it sounds cliché, but I stopped trying to impress anyone and spoke sincerely. It felt like a real conversation. I think that honesty and calmness made a big difference.

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

As someone who believes in both fate and effort, I believe everything unfolded the way it was meant to. But if I had to change one thing, it would be to apostille my documents earlier and submit them well before the deadline. That would’ve saved me a lot of last-minute stress.

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

Join online communities; Reddit, Facebook, whatever works. Don’t be afraid to message former scholars and ask questions. Watch YouTube videos, read posts, and take notes. Start early. Get your documents translated, notarized, and apostilled way before the call opens. Ask for your recommendation letters in advance. Write your own motivation letter, but have someone else read it and give feedback. That part helped me the most. Lastly, keep your application private. You don’t need to tell everyone about it. I don’t know why, but things seem to work out better that way.