The KT&G Scholarship Foundation and the Korea Youth Shelter Council signed a 'New Start Scholarship Business Agreement' on July 7 at 'KT&G Sangsang Planet' in Seongsu-dong, Seoul to support the self-reliance of youth away from home.

Youth away from home are youth in crisis who have chosen to run away due to a lack of protection and support at home. The legal term for youths who have left their homes has been changed from "runaway youths" to "youths away from home" with the revision of the Youth Welfare Support Act last year.

Through this business agreement, the Korea Youth Shelter Council recommends scholarship recipients from youth protection facilities across the nation. In August, the KT&G Scholarship Foundation plans to select 100 scholarship recipients based on the suitability of the recommended recipients and will award them a total of KRW 200 million in scholarships.

The social enterprise 'Tread&Groove', which was selected as an excellent team in the 5th 'Sangsang Startup Camp', a startup support project, will participate in the 'New Start Scholarship Project'. "Tread&Groove" produces and sells eco-friendly upcycled shoes made from used tires. The company plans to deliver KRW 3 million worth of shoes to the scholarship recipients of the "New Start Scholarship Project."

An official from the KT&G Scholarship Foundation stated, "Youth away from home are not protected at home and are frequently left out of the national youth independence support system." He added, "We are preparing this 'New Start Scholarship Project' to aid in their development and new beginnings.”

The KT&G Scholarship Foundation, a public interest corporation established in 2008 to practice the management philosophy of "a Company that Works Together," conducts various scholarship programs domestically and internationally to support the education of the underprivileged and cultivate future talent. In addition, together with the Korea Mecenat Association, it annually selects and supports scholarship students in the field of culture and art, thereby contributing to the discovery of exceptional young artists such as pianist Yunchan Lim. From the foundation's inception to the end of last year, the foundation has contributed a total of KRW 37.5 billion to scholarships.

(Photo description) The KT&G Scholarship Foundation and the Korea Youth Shelter Council signed a 'New Start Scholarship Business Agreement' on July 7 at 'KT&G Sangsang Planet' in Seongsu-dong, Seoul to support the self-reliance of youth away from home. At the business agreement signing ceremony, Ahn Hong-pil, secretary general of the KT&G Scholarship Foundation (left), and Jeong Jin-hae, president of the Korea Youth Shelter Association (right), pose for a commemorative photo.