On June 24, SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won addressed 26 overseas scholarship recipients during the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) Scholarship Award Ceremony held at the SK Serin Building in Jongno-gu, Seoul. In his remarks, Chey emphasized the importance of recognizing the societal support that has facilitated their educational journeys and encouraged the scholars to become responsible individuals who give back to society.
“The benefits you enjoy today are the result of the efforts and sacrifices of others,” Chey stated. “Remember the principle of ‘Eum-su-sa-won’ — ‘drink water and think of its source’ — and fulfill your social responsibilities by giving back to society.”
He further remarked, “It might be easy to think that I am receiving support because of my achievements, but if everyone believed that, our community wouldn’t thrive. Never forget that societal support has played a role in your current success.” As both a chairman of the Korea Higher Education Foundation and a longtime supporter of educational initiatives, Chey underscored the foundation’s mission.
“The purpose of this foundation is not merely to provide scholarships,” he explained. “It aims to nurture talents who can contribute to society. I hope you will carry forward this spirit and help cultivate new knowledge ecosystems and future leaders.”
Concluding his speech, Chey emphasized the importance of a life philosophy rooted in gratitude and reciprocation. “If you naturally adopt a life of giving back what society has given you, your life will become more enriching,” he said.
Founded in 1974 by the late SK Group Chairman Chey Jong-hyun, the Korea Higher Education Foundation has long committed itself to fostering talent with a long-term perspective—symbolized by its philosophy of “plant trees for ten years, nurture people for a hundred years.” The foundation intentionally avoids using the names of its founder or parent company to maintain a focus on pure academic and talent development.
Over its 51-year history, the foundation has supported more than 5,000 scholars, with over 1,000 earning doctoral degrees from prestigious universities worldwide. It has provided full coverage of tuition and living expenses for five years without imposing any restrictions on their future careers. Even during challenging periods such as the Asian financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic, the foundation’s support remained unwavering.
Since inheriting the chairmanship in 1998, Chey Tae-won has expanded the foundation’s activities beyond traditional scholarship offerings, establishing exchanges with global academic institutions, promoting knowledge sharing among youth, and developing programs aligned with contemporary needs. Recently, the foundation has launched initiatives like lectures, debates, and team projects aimed at cultivating “intellectual leaders” with creativity and multidisciplinary problem-solving skills, with a focus on nurturing next-generation talents capable of thriving in a complex, globalized world.
