Sahmyook Sarang Shop, a scholarship and service organization often called the “Mother of Sahmyook University’s International Students,” has donated ₩62 million to support scholarships for foreign students. The organization’s cumulative contributions to Sahmyook University now total an impressive ₩532 million.
Managed by the spouses of Sahmyook University faculty, Sahmyook Sarang Shop donates all proceeds from selling donated goods to provide scholarships for international students. The group also organizes various fundraising events to bolster its scholarship fund.

Foreign students often pursue their education with high levels of enthusiasm but remain excluded from many of the welfare benefits available to domestic students, such as national scholarships. Students from underprivileged or conflict-ridden regions in the Global South face particularly significant financial burdens due to limited familial support for tuition and living expenses.

Since its inception in 2020, Sahmyook Sarang Shop has consistently provided financial support:

• 2020: ₩13.5 million to 13 students
• 2021: ₩40 million to 25 students
• 2022: ₩74 million to 60 students
• 2023: ₩51.85 million to 36 students
• 2024: ₩50.81 million to 31 students

To date, 165 international students have collectively received more than ₩230 million in scholarships.
The program has already yielded remarkable outcomes. Dr. Eliazar Peneton, a recipient and graduate of Sahmyook University’s Department of Integrative Science, is now an assistant professor in the biology department at Mountain View College in the Philippines. Another notable alumnus, Dr. Tserenbayar Chulmanbayar, became the first Mongolian to earn a Ph.D. in Adventist theology and is now serving as a pastor in his home country.

Among this year’s scholarship recipients is Charles Yofi Desbordes, a student from Liberia pursuing an integrated master’s and doctoral program in addiction science. After completing his studies, he dreams of returning to his homeland to help those struggling with addiction.

Sahmyook Sarang Shop Chairwoman Jo Seung-hee (spouse of University President Jae Hae-jong) expressed her pride in the students, saying, “I am incredibly proud of these students who continue to strive toward their dreams despite difficult circumstances. We will keep working to support your academic journey and are deeply grateful to the donors who share this vision with us.”