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KAIST receives $3.6 million anonymous donation to support young scientists

Published: 26 Feb. 2026, 17:50

KAIST campus in the central city of Daejeon [YONHAP]

An anonymous businessperson has donated 5.06 billion won ($3.6 million) to KAIST, requesting that the spotlight fall on young scientists' achievements rather than the donor.

“I hope the wonderful research accomplishments of young KAIST scientists shine brighter than the donor's name,” the donor said.

The induction took place without a formal ceremony to respect the Seoul-based donor's wish to remain anonymous, according to KAIST on Thursday. The donor's identity will remain undisclosed.

The donor built a successful business using the inheritance from their mother, who practiced philanthropy throughout her life. Wanting to give back, the donor chose to return part of the inheritance to society, with the donor's daughter helping him execute the donation.

KAIST plans to establish the “Cho Gi-yeop Next-Generation Research Leader Fellowship” (translated), named after the donor’s mother. The fund will preserve the 5 billion won principal and use the investment returns to support the program. The donor also added 60 million won for the first year, saying, “I want to support young scientists as soon as possible.”

Starting this year, KAIST will select three Cho Gi-yeop fellows annually and provide 20 million won every year for three years to support their academic activities. Eligible recipients are professors at the assistant or associate level who have not yet received tenure.

“My mother's lifelong commitment to giving was our family's greatest asset,” the donor said. “If this scholarship can truly help young scholars, that alone will make it worthwhile.”

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
BY KIM EUN-BIN [[email protected]]