KGSP and the Study Korea 300K Plan: Opportunities for Indonesian Students

What GKS (formerly KGSP) offers Indonesian students

The Global Korea Scholarship, still commonly called KGSP from its earlier name, is South Korea's flagship government scholarship for international students. The Ministry of Education funds it and the National Institute for International Education (NIIED) runs it, with the Korean Embassy in Jakarta handling Indonesian applicants locally.

The scholarship pays for tuition, a round trip flight to Korea, a settlement allowance, health insurance and a monthly stipend. Recipients who need language preparation also get one year of Korean language training before starting their degree. Bachelor's recipients typically go through a one year language program followed by four to six years of degree study, while associate degree recipients follow one year of language training plus two to three years of study.

Two application routes

You apply through one of two tracks, and you choose only one per cycle.

• Embassy Track: apply directly through the Korean Embassy in Jakarta, which screens and forwards nominated candidates to NIIED

• University Track: apply straight to a specific Korean university on NIIED's approved list, which handles its own screening before sending nominees to NIIED

For the 2026 intake, Indonesia's total quota is 104 places : 33 through the Embassy Track and 71 through the University Track.

2026 application timeline

These dates come from the Korean Embassy in Indonesia's official notice . Each new cycle opens on a similar schedule, so check the embassy page directly before you plan around these dates in a later year.

Who qualifies

• You and your parents hold non-Korean citizenship

• You are under 40 years old at the time of application

• Your academic record places you in the top 20% of your class, or you hold a grade average of 80% or higher

• You meet the health requirements set for your chosen degree level

Why the Study Korea 300K Plan matters for you

South Korea launched the Study Korea 300K Plan in 2023 to bring 300,000 international students into the country by 2027, split between 220,000 in degree programs and 80,000 in non-degree study. The goal was to place Korea among the world's top ten study destinations.

The plan moved faster than expected. Total foreign enrollment reached 305,329 students by August 2025 , putting Korea past its 2027 target two years early.

For Indonesian applicants, this expansion brings practical changes. The government is growing GKS quotas each cycle, prioritizing STEM applicants, and encouraging universities outside Seoul to take on more international students, which widens your options beyond the capital and often comes with lower living costs.

How to prepare your application

• Decide between Embassy Track and University Track early. Embassy Track suits students who want Korean staff in Jakarta to guide them through document checks. University Track suits students who already know their target university and program.

• Collect academic transcripts, a study plan or research proposal, recommendation letters and a personal statement well before the February window opens.

• Check whether your target university requires a Korean or English proficiency score at application stage. Some programs waive the language test if you commit to the one year language course first.

• Apply through the Study in Korea Integrated System once your track's application window opens.

Embassy Track or University Track: which fits you

Embassy Track gives you a wider net since Jakarta staff guide your documents and NIIED matches you to a university within your preferences. University Track suits you if a specific lab, professor or program is the reason you want to study in Korea, since you apply, interview and get evaluated by that single university's own admissions committee.

TOPIK score and language training

If you already hold a qualifying TOPIK score, typically level 5 or above, you can skip part or all of the one year Korean language course and begin your degree program directly, cutting time off your total stay in Korea. Without that score, you complete the mandatory language year before your department accepts you into coursework, and your language performance during that year still affects your continued scholarship funding.

After you receive an offer

Once NIIED confirms your placement, your university sends visa documents so you apply for a D-2 (degree) or D-4 (language) visa at the Korean Embassy in Jakarta. Universities also run an orientation before the semester starts, covering course registration, health insurance enrollment and campus housing.

Renewal of your scholarship into later years depends on maintaining your university's minimum GPA requirement and passing your Korean or English language benchmarks on schedule. Check your specific university's renewal policy once you arrive, since thresholds differ by school.

Budgeting beyond the stipend

The monthly stipend of ₩900,000 to ₩1,000,000 covers day to day living in most Korean cities, but Seoul housing and transport cost more than regional cities. Factor this into your choice of university, especially if the Study Korea 300K Plan's push toward regional campuses opens a strong option outside the capital in your field.

Set aside personal funds for your first month before the stipend and settlement allowance arrive, plus visa fees and any items your host university does not provide, such as bedding or a phone plan.