*POSCO Korea Fellowship Scholar is a global leadership scholarship program that supports promising young talents from overseas to pursue master’s or doctoral degrees at prestigious graduate schools in Korea, covering full tuition and living expenses.

Hello, my name is Sena, and I’m from Türkiye. I was selected as a POSCO Korea Fellowship scholar in the fall of 2023, and I’m currently completing my master’s degree in Media and Communication Studies at Hanyang University. My research focuses on a comparative analysis between Korean dramas and their Turkish remake versions, exploring hybridity* and cultural proximity between the two cultures. I’m deeply interested in cross-cultural interactions and discourses through media, and I hope that my research will make a small contribution to the mutual understanding and exchange of cultural content between Korea and Türkiye.

*Hybridity: A concept referring to the phenomenon of different cultures blending to create a new cultural form.

I had always wanted to pursue my master’s degree in Korea since my undergraduate years. While researching various scholarships, I first came across the POSCO Korea Fellowship. However, I learned that usually only one student from Türkiye is selected each year, so there were times when I didn’t even dare to apply. Then, in the summer of 2023, I happened to see an announcement that the application deadline had been extended — and I gathered all my courage to apply.

Although I had been interviewed for other scholarships before, the POSCO Korea Fellowship interview felt entirely different. Rather than simply evaluating applicants, the interviewers genuinely tried to understand us, asking thoughtful and detailed questions. I still vividly remember the moment I received the acceptance email. I was on my way to work, and when I saw the message, I was so happy that I burst into tears and immediately called my friends. That day remains one of the happiest moments of my life.

Due to personal reasons, I wasn’t able to participate in many official events during the fellowship period, but the recent farewell event was truly meaningful for me. It was a great opportunity to learn more about POSCO and the POSCO TJ Park Foundation, and most importantly, to meet and connect with other fellows.

In past events, I was often the only Turkish participant, but this time, I was delighted to meet other Turkish fellows as well. I could really feel how much everyone had grown and accomplished over the past two years. It was a deeply touching moment — bittersweet, since it might have been our last gathering, but also filled with gratitude for the wonderful friendships I had formed through this program.

As an undergraduate, I majored in Korean Language and Literature and spent a semester in Korea as an exchange student. Experiencing the academic environment and campus life firsthand, I became convinced that I wanted to pursue my master’s degree in Korea.

I’ve always been fascinated by media studies, and I wanted to explore a field different from my undergraduate major — which led me to Media and Communication Studies. Korea, being one of the most advanced countries in the world in media industries such as drama, film, music, and advertising, provides an ideal environment for both academic and practical learning.​

After graduation, I hope to work in a Korean media company to gain hands-on experience and eventually contribute to cultural exchange between Korea and Türkiye. My long-term goal is to play a meaningful role in bridging the two countries through collaborative media and cultural projects.

I’m pursuing a master’s degree in Media and Communication Studies at Hanyang University, with a concentration in broadcasting and visual media. I believe media communication is an ever-evolving field that continues to expand in both depth and influence. To me, media is not just a tool for delivering content — it’s a lens through which we see the world and a window through which the world sees us. It has the power to connect people across physical distances, and I’m deeply inspired by how dramas and films can evoke meaningful emotions and even guide people through important moments in life.

Over the past two years, I’ve developed my own perspectives through various courses and experiences. I also worked as a teaching assistant for three semesters, which allowed me to gain a closer understanding of Korea’s higher education system.​

My research compares Korean dramas with their Turkish remakes. Although Korea and Türkiye are geographically far apart, they share surprising cultural similarities, and Turkish audiences have long shown great interest in Korean dramas and films. Many Korean works have been remade in Türkiye, and this phenomenon made me wonder: How can two distant countries feel so close? How do they influence each other, and what forms of hybridity emerge through this exchange? My study explores these questions through the lens of media and cultural theory.

My immediate goal is to complete this semester and successfully finish my thesis. I also hope to gain some internship experience in Korea — to apply my academic knowledge in a real-world media environment and understand the industry’s structure and workflow. After graduation, I would like to work in Korea for a while to build practical skills, and later return to Türkiye to work in the field of media and content exchange between the two countries. As someone who understands both languages and cultures, I hope to contribute to joint productions and cultural projects that bring Korea and Türkiye closer together — becoming a small but meaningful bridge between our two nations.

Goethe once said, “Everything is hard before it becomes easy.” Looking back on my own journey, I realize that every beginning was always harder than I expected. My graduate studies were no exception — at first, everything felt unfamiliar and challenging, but by putting in steady effort each day, I gradually adapted and started to see my path more clearly.

In my scholarship application, I wrote the phrase “After hardship comes happiness,” and I still believe that’s true. Sometimes you may feel like your efforts aren’t paying off or that you’re struggling alone — but all those efforts do accumulate over time. POSCO TJ Park Foundation truly sees the potential and light within each of its scholars. Believe in yourself and keep challenging forward. I sincerely wish you all the best in your journey!

The POSCO Korea Fellowship was a turning point in my life — it helped me realize a long-held dream that once felt out of reach. At a time when I had been trying for years without success, this scholarship gave me renewed hope, and from that moment, my life changed completely.

For the past two years, I have been proud to call myself a “POSCO TJ Park Foundation scholar,” and I will continue to carry that pride in the future. I live each day with deep gratitude, knowing that my achievements were not only the result of my own efforts, but also the trust and support I received from the Foundation.

When I read about POSCO’s founder, the late Chairman Park Tae-joon, I am often reminded of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk*, the founder and first president of modern Türkiye. Atatürk placed great importance on youth and education, saying, “Raise the youth well. Instill in them knowledge, culture, and sound ideals. Together with them, we will build a bright future.” I believe the POSCO TJ Park Foundation embodies this very vision — enabling people to achieve things that would otherwise be impossible alone. It is a foundation with profound meaning and purpose. I am forever grateful.

*Mustafa Kemal Atatürk: Founder and first president of the Republic of Türkiye.

​*This content was created based on an interview article by the POSCO TJ Park Foundation.

Harit Keawmuang, selected as a POSCO Asia Fellow in the fall of 2022, is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering at Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH). Originally from Thailand, Harit completed his undergraduate studies in his home country and went on to earn a master’s degree in Hungary, Europe. He came to Korea to begin his doctoral studies as a POSCO Asia Fellow*. In this interview, Harit shares his heartfelt journey—from his decision to study in Korea, to his experience as a fellow, and his aspirations to contribute to sustainable technological development in Thailand.

*The POSCO Asia Fellowship is a scholarship program operated by the POSCO TJ Park Foundation. It invites outstanding talent from various Asian countries to Korea to support their master’s and doctoral degrees, and aims to promote exchange and mutual understanding among Asian countries.

Hello, my name is Harit Keawmuang, and I’m from Thailand. Thai people usually have nicknames, and mine is “Game.” Even in Korea, my professors and friends call me by this nickname.

​I completed my undergraduate degree in Thailand, then earned a master’s degree in Hungary. In the fall of 2022, I was very fortunate to be selected as a POSCO Asia Fellow, which brought me to Korea to pursue my Ph.D. I’m now in my third year of the Ph.D. program in Mechanical Engineering at POSTECH, focusing on the field of nanophotonics.

Nanophotonics is a field that studies how to manipulate light using extremely small structures. The prefix “nano” refers to a unit that is one-billionth of a meter. We study how to guide and shape light through these tiny structures. One example is the “metalens”—an ultra-thin lens composed of nanostructures. These lenses can focus light without the need for traditional thick glass, making them particularly useful for smartphones, compact cameras, and medical devices.

While preparing to study in Korea, I was looking for scholarships and came across the POSCO Asia Fellowship. I learned that it offered not only financial support but also a platform for connecting with other talented students from across Asia studying in Korea. That drew me in, and I decided to apply.

​When I found out I had been selected, I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude and joy. At the same time, I was a bit sad about being apart from my family. Still, I believed this would be a meaningful step in both my personal and academic journey. I was confident and ready to embrace the new challenges ahead.

The POSCO Asia Fellowship and the POSCO TJ Park Foundation provided not only financial support but also emotional care. Thanks to their thoughtful consideration and encouragement, my life in Korea became much smoother. One of the most memorable moments was attending an alumni gathering in Pohang. It was a delightful experience where I got to enjoy food and conversations with alumni from various countries, including fellow Thai seniors.

​Another memory that stands out is receiving gifts from the Foundation during Korean holidays. After a long day, coming back to my dorm to find a warm gift left at my door was truly comforting. Those moments reminded me that I wasn’t alone, and they meant a lot to me.

There were three main reasons I decided to study in Korea. First, I had a long-standing interest in Korean culture, especially through Korean dramas, which sparked my curiosity about Korean life and language. Over time, I developed a desire to experience life in Korea firsthand.

​Second, I wanted to shift my academic journey from Europe to Asia. In Thailand, graduation ceremonies are very important to families, especially to older generations. My grandmother, who raised me, couldn’t attend my undergraduate ceremony, and due to distance and health issues, she also missed my master’s graduation. I hoped that by studying in Asia, she might be able to attend my Ph.D. graduation, which was a strong motivation for me.

​Third, I wanted to study nanotechnology and nanophotonics—fields that are still developing in Thailand. POSTECH, in particular, has excellent research environments, outstanding faculty, and cutting-edge facilities. I believed it was the ideal place for me to grow in this field.

I am conducting research in nanotechnology, specifically in the field of nanophotonics. As mentioned earlier, this field explores how to manipulate light through extremely small structures. My current research focuses on a technology called Photonic Radiative Cooling.

​This technology uses nanostructures to reflect sunlight and radiate heat, cooling objects to temperatures even lower than the surrounding air, all without using electricity. It’s a highly practical and eco-friendly cooling method, different from traditional air conditioners.

​I chose this field not only because it is fascinating, but also because Thailand still has a long way to go in this area. Nanophotonics is rapidly evolving worldwide and holds great innovation potential. In a hot and humid country like Thailand, this kind of energy-efficient cooling technology could make a significant impact. My goal is to contribute to the development of sustainable cooling systems in Thailand—technology that could benefit everyday life and help solve environmental issues.

As a Ph.D. student, my immediate goal is to produce meaningful research and publish high-quality results. After completing my degree, I hope to return to Thailand and work as a professor or researcher, contributing to the advancement of nanotechnology and nanophotonics in my country. Most of all, I want to spend time with my family, who have supported me throughout this journey, and repay their love and encouragement by living closely with them.

To students who are currently chasing their dreams or going through tough times, I want to say: even if you feel like giving up, you can overcome it. I wasn’t very focused in school and often gave up easily. But once I started thinking about what matters—myself and the people who care about me—I began to focus and change.

​If you feel like you don’t have the strength to fight for yourself, think about those you love. For me, my mother and my family were my greatest sources of strength.

​To be honest, I wasn’t someone with grand ambitions or dreams. I simply wanted to be a better person, make my mom proud, and protect my family by doing something I love. What I’ve learned is that you don’t need a big dream or a flashy goal to move forward. Sometimes, the small motivations tied to those you care about can become a powerful force that changes your life. Rather than big plans, it might be the precious people right beside you who push you forward.

To me, POSCO and the POSCO TJ Park Foundation are not just a company or a foundation. As a POSCO Asia Fellow, I feel a deep sense of pride and belonging, not just as a scholarship recipient, but as a member of a community that truly believes in and supports me. I know that everything I’ve accomplished in Korea was not achieved alone. It was made possible because of POSCO’s support. I want to take this opportunity to sincerely thank POSCO and the POSCO TJ Park Foundation once again.

*This content was created based on an interview article by the POSCO TJ Park Foundation.

POSCO TJ Park Foundation (Chairperson Sunuk Kim) selected Sergeant Dong-Gil Han as a POSCO Hero for rescuing a mother and daughter trapped in an overturned vehicle at risk of injury and fire. The foundation delivered a plaque and scholarship on August 14.

Sergeant Dong-Gil Han found an overturned vehicle with smoke rising at an intersection in Chuncheon and rushed to the scene of the accident.

Inside the vehicle, the mother and daughter were injured and were hanging upside down. The door was broken and could not be opened. Sergeant Han broke the car window with his bare hands and rescued the mother and daughter without any hesitation. During the rescue process, Sergeant Han cut his arm on a piece of glass.

▲ POSCO TJ Park Foundation invited Sergeant Dong-Gil Han and his family for the POSCO Heroes Fellowship award ceremony on August 14

POSCO Heroes Fellowship is a program of POSCO TJ Park Foundation that supports righteous people, who sacrificed themselves for the sake of national and social justice, so that their children can continue their studies. The purpose of the program is to raise social interest in righteous acts by discovering public officials or citizens who set an example for society and also to create a just society where its members help each other in difficult situations. Established in 2019, POSCO Heroes Fellowship has been awarded eight times to a total of 12 people so far.

On June 1, POSCO TJ Park Foundation (Chairman Sun-Uk Kim) made an announcement for the ‘2021 POSCO TJ Park Prize’.

POSCO TJ Park Prize is awarded to individuals or organizations with outstanding contributions in science, education, philanthropy, and technology. POSCO TJ Park Foundation will receive candidate recommendation for four months — from June to September. Awardees will be announced in February next year, and the ceremony will be held in April. Each recipient will receive 200 million KRW.

POSCO TJ Park Prize was established to honor the achievements of the late Chairman Tae-Joon Park, who started POSCO and grew it into a world-class steelmaker. Another purpose of the prize is to contribute to the advancement of the nation by expanding public attention and participation in the company’s founding principles: creativity, nurturing talent, and philanthropy. The prize is categorized into four: Science Prize, Education Prize, Community Development & Philanthropy Prize, and Technology Prize and has been awarded since 2007. As of 2020, 48 Koreans and Asians have received the prize.

More information on the POSCO TJ Park Prize can be found at www.postf.org/en/main.do (Official English website of POSCO TJ Park Foundation)

Earlier this month, the POSCO TJ Park Foundation (Chairperson Sun-Wook Kim) announced the finalists for the prestigious POSCO TJ Park Prize at its board meeting. Professor Jung-Hee Cheon of Seoul National University received the Science Prize, and Yeomyung School accepted the Education Prize. The Community Development and Philanthropy Prize went to the Angkor Hospital Children in Cambodia and the Technology Prize went to Tae-Won Lim, the Head of the Technology Innovation Center at Hyundai Motor.

▲ Seoul National University Professor Jung-Hee Cheon (Department of Mathematical Sciences), the recipient of the Science Prize

Professor Jung-Hee Cheon decrypted cryptographic multilinear maps for the first time in the world and developed HeaAn, a homomorphic encryption software program. HeaAn can perform approximate number arithmetics without decryption process. Professor Cheon is a cryptology expert who presented a new security paradigm in the age of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

HeaAn not only suggested a possible defense approach against various hackings from different computer terminals at the source. It also successfully implemented machine learning and deep learning. Furthermore, as it has been proved that homomorphic encryption for approximate number arithmetics can be applied to all the fields requiring data security, such as biometric information and financial transaction, HeaAn’s application range in the future seem endless – to Big Data, block chains, autonomous vehicles and IoT, just to name a few.

▲ Yeomyung School, the winner of 2019 TJ Park Education Prize

Yeomyung School is the first accredited alternative school of private initiative. The school opened in 2004 and started attending to the needs of North Korean youths during the rapid influx of North Korean refugees in early 2000. At Yeomyung, North Korean youths deal with post-trauma and seek rehabilitation, receiving customized education as per individual needs. The school offers original education modules with its vision set on unified Korea. Yeongmyung’s curriculum is designed to assist the students in assimilating to the life in South Korea: from democratic citizenship education, basic economic knowledge, community education, social etiquettes, art/music therapy, to counseling and physical education. The school also runs specific programs geared toward college preparatory exams or vocational training.

Since 2015, Yeomyung has been running regular exchange programs between its students and South Korean youths to help refugees better adapt to life in South Korea while building empathy towards each other. The school also organizes seminars on unification –the school collaborates with the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Germany, the country that underwent unification before Korea.

▲ Community Development and Philanthropy Prize recipient: Angkor Hospital for Children, Cambodia

Angkor Hospital for Children was established in 1999 to improve Cambodian health services through pediatric medical care and hygiene prevention education for underprivileged children in Angkor, one of the most impoverished areas in Cambodia. Every day, the hospital provides free medical services to over 500 underprivileged children on average, annually adding up to 160,000 children. In 2013, it established intensive care units for the newborns and critical patients for the first time in Cambodia. As a result, the hospital contributed to bringing down the neonatal mortality rates, thereby improving the overall health care services in Cambodia.

The medical infrastructure of Angkor Children’s Hospital is utilized as a training site for 800 nursing students and over 100 medical personnel from various medical facilities every year, including government-affiliated public health institutions as well as private hospital healthcare providers.

▲ Tae-Won Lim, the Head of the Technology Innovation Center at Hyundai Motor: the winner of Technology Prize

Tae-Won Lim, the winner of the Technology Prize, is the Head of the Technology Innovation Center at Hyundai Motor. He is one of Korea’s leading experts on hydrogen cars and led the development of key technologies from the early days of hydrogen vehicles to 2013 when hydrogen fuel cell vehicles were successfully mass-produced for the first time in the world. With no production facilities properly established, Lim has undergone numerous trials and errors, but he was persistent. Lim concentrated on developing fuel cell stacks, which are the core parts of the hydrogen cars, and saw to the successful development of cost-competitive hydrogen fuel cells that can be loaded in vehicles.

Despite Korea’s tenuous circumstances in the fuel cells industry, Lim pioneered establishing infrastructures for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles by seeking participation from over 20 universities and 300 component manufacturers. He played a crucial role in localizing over 90 percent of core components. Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles use clean energy source with zero emission of toxic materials. Its fast refueling times make hydrogen cars all the more eligible to become the sustainable mainstream vehicles in the future, and they are regarded as the key technology that will bring Korea’s automobile industry to the next level.

The POSCO TJ Park Foundation has been abiding by the principles of corporate citizenship through the establishment of the POSCO TJ Park Award since 2006, with a view to spreading public interest and participation in POSCO’s founding philosophy: creativity, talent cultivation, and community service. The POSCO TJ Park Prize has four categories: Science, Education, Community Development & Philanthropy, and Technology prize. The Science Prize is given to Korean scientists who have made creative and original achievements in the fields of natural science or engineering based on domestic research activities, contributing to raising the national status and developing science and technology.

The Educational Prize recognizes individuals or organizations who have systematically carried out creative education programs that help improve the overall education system. The Community Development and Philanthropy Prize Award is given to an individual or an organization who devoted themselves to community service. The award eligibility had been expanded to entire Asia in conjunction with the Foundation’s principal program, Asia Fellowship.

The Technology Prize, in its third year, acknowledges the efforts in various industry sectors and academic institutions. The award specifically recognizes those who saw to the development and commercialization of world-class technologies in a way that contributes to various industries across Korea.

The award selection committee is entrusted with exclusive authority in choosing the candidates. To guarantee a fair and transparent procedure, candidates undergo meticulous selection process – the committee conducts on-site visitation for each candidate as well as expert panel evaluation boosting the prestige of the TJ Park Prize even more. The award criteria were announced nationwide, and about 50 candidates were nominated for each category. The selection committee evaluated candidates’ achievements, conducted on-site visitations and considered expert evaluations. On February 13th, the Board approved the final winners for each category.

The 2019 POSCO TJ Park Award ceremony will be held at the POSCO Center in Seoul on April 3. Each winner will be awarded with 200 million KRW (approx. 179,000 USD).

Currently at its 12th cycle, the current Beyonders thereby called Beyond 12th, the Beyond is part of POSCO’s endeavor to extend its corporate citizenship by cultivating global talents. Beyond volunteering is not a sporadic event. It’s an 8-month program organized in a way through which participants could truly embody the community service spirits and mutual respect.

To date, over 1,100 students participated in the program working on 270-plus construction projects, teaching activities, and various other programs across India, Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam. Beyonders also contributed their talents to various domestic projects in Pohang, Gwangyang, and Incheon.

Take a look at the Beyond volunteer activities during the 12 days in Cilegon, Indonesia with POSCO Newsroom.

House-building project was the very first task the Beyond 12th took on when they arrived in Cilegon. The Beyonders built houses for a total of 10 impoverished households in the vicinity of PT Krakatau POSCO. For each house to be built, around 11 to 12 volunteers were assigned.

The housing project is linked to the Indonesian Steel Village Project, which started in 2018. Each housing unit consisted of two rooms, a living room and a toilet with a total surface area of 30 square meters. During the 12-day construction period, Beyonders proactively reached out to the local community to build meaningful connections and foster mutual understanding. Check out the pictures below:

More than 290 people attended the presentation ceremony, including Ohjoon Kwon, chairman of the POSCO TJ Park Foundation; Chang-hee Kang, former chairman of the National Assembly; Hong-goo Lee and Deok-soo Han, former prime ministers of Korea; Gong-il Sa, chairman of the Institute for Global Economics; Nak-in Sung, president of Seoul National University; and prize winners from previous years.

Ohjoon Kwon, POSCO CEO and chairman of the POSCO TJ Park Foundation, said, “For the past 10 years, the POSCO TJ Park Prize has been a way to recognize those who tackle the never-ending challenges of today’s world. In the next 10 years, we aim to make the POSCO TJ Park Prize an even more noteworthy honor.”

This year, the POSCO TJ Park Prize was awarded to the following honorees:

• Excellence in Science: Prof. Jong-heun Lee, Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Korea University
• Excellence in Education: Attached Middle School at Kyungpook National University
• Excellence in Community Development & Philanthropy: Jimmy Pham of Vietnam, CEO of KOTO
• Excellence in Technology: Myeong-hwan Kim, head of the Battery Research Institute at LG Chem.

POSCO CEO Ohjoon Kwon (far right) stands with recipients of the POSCO TJ Park Prize. The award recognized their noteworthy achievements in science, education, community development, and technology.

The Excellence in Technology award was added this year to highlight how technology has contributed to the renewal of the Korean economy. Eligible candidates for this category include persons or organizations that contributed to national and global market development.

Prof. Jong-heun Lee of Korea University, winner of the TJ Park Science prize, was honored for his work on the oxide nano hierarchical structure in which nano building blocks are regularly self-assembled, and the p-type oxide semiconductor, which has a high level of catalytic activity that allows for gases to be detected quickly and selectively. His achievements are expected to be widely utilized in various areas such as safety, environment, medical science, and IoT.

Kyungpook National University Attached Middle School, winner of the Excellence in Education prize, was awarded for its model of creative public education. Unlike a typical learning environment, the middle school introduced project-based learning in 2012, which allowed students to switch roles with teachers and also collaborate with one another on a deeper level.

Jimmy Pham, winner of the Excellence in Community Development and Philanthropy prize, established KOTO (Know One, Teach One), the first social enterprise in Vietnam. For 17 years, the organization has been giving at-risk youth a chance to stand on their own by teaching various life-skill classes.

Myung-hwan Kim, head of the Battery Research Institute at LG Chem, received the foundation’s very first Excellence in Technology prize. Kim began to oversee battery R&D in 1996 when the secondary battery business was first starting to become active. Through much trial and error and over 20 years of experience in the field, Kim successfully developed the first lithium-ion battery for electric vehicles. He is considered to have greatly contributed to making Korea a leader in the secondary battery industry.

Chang-hee Kang, former chairman of the National Assembly, delivered a congratulatory address, saying, “I would like to thank POSCO for contributing not only to the development of science and technology, but also for actively recognizing scholars and citizens who made a great impact in their respective fields.”

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