A first-generation Korean-American couple, Kwang-Kook Koh and Kook-Wha Koh, are donating $1 million to help second-generation Korean Americans pay for college.
Both alumni of Seoul National University’s College of Engineering, the couple recently pledged this significant sum in scholarship donations to the Seoul National University Alumni Association in the USA. According to the association, while American alumni have previously established scholarship funds at their alma mater, Seoul National University, this marks the first instance in history of such a substantial donation being made specifically for Korean-American students.
Their donation plan involves contributing $100,000 each for the next two years, followed by $200,000 per year for the subsequent four years starting in 2026. The Seoul National University Alumni Association in the USA will establish the “Koh Kwang-Kook, Koh Kook-Wha Science & Engineering Scholarship” in honor of the couple, awarding scholarships to selected students annually.
In an interview with the Korea Daily on April 29, the couple expressed their long-standing desire to establish a scholarship for Korean-American students in the United States. They stated, “We hope that the students who receive the scholarship study and work hard and live a life of contribution to society.”
The Kohs are the founders of Chrysan Industries, a global manufacturer of automotive lubricants and specialized chemicals, presently supplying water-soluble coolants and cutting oil to GM, Ford, and Chrysler.
In 2021, the couple donated $1 million in scholarships to the University of Iowa, where Kook-Wha Koh earned her doctorate, and $400,000 to a local United Methodist church. Additionally, Kwang-Kook Koh previously donated $100,000 to Seoul National University in 2008.
BY NICOLE CHANG, HOONSIK WOO [chang.nicole@koreadaily.com]
