Dr. Lee Hoon Scholarship Program

Korean Community Services of Metropolitan New York, Inc. (KCS) is pleased to present scholarship opportunities to outstanding high school seniors of Korean heritage who have demonstrated academic excellence and leadership in their communities. 

The scholarship deadline is Friday, May 30th, 2025 at 11:59 PM (EST). Please use your desktop computer when applying. 

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Three scholarships of $5,000 each will be awarded to students entering four-year colleges or universities in the fall of 2025 to assist with tuition payments during their first year of higher education.

About Dr. Lee Hoon

Dr. Lee Hoon was a dentist from San Francisco, California, whose own education was only possible because of the support of various scholarship programs. Dr. Lee was born in Korea and received his DDS and Ph.D. from Seoul National University before immigrating to the United States in 1973. After quickly passing his boards in 1974, Dr. Lee opened up a practice in San Francisco. 

 

He was an active member of the Korean-American communities in the San Francisco Bay Area and New York City and was committed to giving back to his community. Dr. Lee was also active in his church’s pastoral ministry, where he worked with elderly Koreans and nursing home residents and provided health and dental care to communities in rural Mexico. 

Who is eligible?

  1. Be of Korean heritage
  2. Be a current high school senior
  3. Enrolled in a four-year college or university starting in Fall 2025
  4. Be a resident of the state of New York or New Jersey
  5. Have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
  6. Have demonstrated leadership skills or volunteerism in their community
  7. Have a family income of or below 400% of the federal poverty level (Please see table below)

Poverty level annual income figures from: https://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty-guidelines

Scholarship Process

1.
Application

Application deadline is Friday, May 30th, 2025 at 11:59 PM (EST).

2.
Review

The Scholarship Committee will review your application.

3.
Announcements

Applicants will be notified via email.

How to apply?

Apply online. Applications must be submitted by Friday, May 30th, 2025, at 11:59 PM (EST). Please use a desktop computer when filling out the application.

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Submit all required documents in a single email to scholarships@kcsny.org with the subject line:

“[First and Last Name] 2025 Lee Hoon Scholarship Application”

Required Documents Checklist

  1. Resume
    File titled: [First and Last Name] Resume
  2. Most recent transcript (official or unofficial is acceptable)
    File titled: [First and Last Name] Transcript
  3. Most recent copy of parent/guardian’s federal income tax form
    File titled: [First and Last Name] Federal Income Tax Form
  4. Completed online application
    Application includes a short essay (600 Word Limit)

Resources

Student Stories

stories 1
stories 2

Past Awardees

2024

  • Matthew Huang, Georgetown University’s College of Arts & Sciences
  • Grace Lee, University of Michigan
  • Ian Lim, Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education

2023

  • Eunice Dahyoung Yoo, Northeastern University
  • Jina Koh, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
  • Sarah Jiwoo Kim, University of Michigan
  • Yewon Ahn, Vanderbilt University

2022

  • Nadia Erin Chung, Stanford University
  • Genesis Haim Kang, Northwestern University
  • Justin Sungsan Kim, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
  • Jaekyung Lee, University of California, Berkeley

FAQ

1. What does Korean ancestry mean?

You must have at least one grandparent of Korean descent.

2. Do I need to be a U.S. citizen to receive this scholarship?

No. You only need to be a resident of the state of New York or New Jersey.

3. What exactly does 400% of the federal poverty level mean?

The federal poverty level (FPL) is a measure of income issued annually by the Department of Health and Human Services to determine eligibility for specific programs. It is based on household income and size. You are eligible for this scholarship if your family’s income is at or below 400% of the annual FPL. For more details, please see the 2025 FPL chart.

4. What matters most in selecting the scholarship recipient - the GPA, essay, or resume?

All criteria are considered during the selection process.

5. Does my leadership experience need to be in the Korean community?

Your leadership experience does not need to be specific to the Korean community. However, we encourage applicants with leadership experience in the Korean community to apply.

6. What can I use this scholarship money for? Can I use it to buy books, computers, and other school supplies?

The scholarship funds can only be used for tuition and other school-related expenses. Payments will be sent directly to the college or university you will attend.

7. When will I find out if I've won a scholarship?

All applicants will receive an email in June.

8. To be eligible, do I need to be starting my first year of college or university?

Yes, you must begin your first year of college or university this fall (2025). Please refer to the website for additional eligibility requirements.

9. How many scholarships will be awarded? How much will be given?

This year, three scholarships will be awarded for $5,000 each.

I0. How and when will I receive the money?

KCS will send the funds directly to your school in July or August 2025.

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