2026 Recruitment Notice for Seafarers' Family Scholarship!

As part of our project to promote pride in the seafaring profession, the Korea Seafarers' Welfare & Employment Center is conducting the Seafarers' Family Scholarship Program.

Application Guide

Eligibility

Seafarers (and their families) who have embarked on or disembarked from vessels subject to Article 3 of the Seafarers Act.

Definition of Seafarer's Family:

• 1. Spouse, parents, children.

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• 2. Grandchildren (if directly supported by the seafarer).

• 3. Siblings (if the seafarer is the head of the household and responsible for supporting the family; only applicable if both foster/biological parents are absent).

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Sea Service Career Requirements

• Seafarers with at least 3 years of total sea service who disembarked within 1 year prior to application.

  * For ratings on coastal/offshore fishing vessels: at least 1 year of total sea service.

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Income Criteria

• 1st Semester: Monthly average wage of seafarers in 2024 or below.

• 2nd Semester: Monthly average wage of seafarers in 2025 or below.

  * Note: If 2 or more family members are enrolled in high school or university, a 10% increase is applied to the threshold amount.

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Academic Requirements

• University Students: GPA of 2.0 or higher in the previous semester (no grade requirement for incoming freshmen).

• High School Students: No grade requirement.

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Ineligible Applicants

Shipowners, public vessel seafarers, and individuals who are exempt from tuition fees.

Award Amounts & Number of Recipients

* Priority Selection (1st to 6th priority): Students belonging to priority groups (e.g., occupational disability/deceased seafarers, basic livelihood security recipients, etc.) will receive 100% full actual costs with no cap.

Application Period

Required Documents

Prescribed Forms (1 copy each, downloadable from our center's official website)

1. 1. Scholarship Application Form (for Students)

2. 2. Personal Information Collection, Use, and Provision Consent Form

3. 3. Scholarship Application Form (for Workplace Verification)

4. 4. Written Pledge

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Proof of Average Monthly Salary (1 copy)

• Certificate of Income Tax Withholding (company official seal required)

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• - 1st Semester: Based on Year 2024
  - 2nd Semester: Based on Year 2025

  • * Exempt for deceased or disabled seafarers, as well as unemployed seafarers whose unemployment period has exceeded 6 months.

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Proof of Sea Service (1 copy)

• - For ratings on coastal/offshore fishing vessels: Certificate of Embarkation Fact Verification (issued by the Coast Guard).

• * Exempt for deceased or disabled seafarers.

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Other Required Certificates (1 copy each)

• 1. Family Relation Certificate: Issued within 3 months from the application date.

• 2. Certificate of Enrollment:

  • 1st Semester: Issued on or after March 2026

  • 2nd Semester: Issued on or after September 2026

• 3. Tuition Fee Payment Receipt: Issued for the respective semester in 2026.

• 4. Academic Transcript: Required for university students only.

• 5. Additional Supporting Documents (if applicable):

  • Confirmation Certificate of Death in the Line of Duty (deceased seafarers only)

  • Disability Grade Certificate (disabled seafarers only)

  • Basic Livelihood Recipient Certificate / Near-Poverty Line Certificate / Single-Parent Family Certificate

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• Important Note on Certificates: Enrollment and academic transcripts must be submitted as original documents (printing a document issued as a PDF is considered a copy).