{
  "id": 511561,
  "title": "GKS becomes gateway to life in Korea for Uzbek scholar",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/10/gks-becomes-gateway-to-life-in-korea-for-uzbek-scholar-511561",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-10T23:22:02.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times-koreatimes",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/southkorea/education/20260811/gks-becomes-gateway-to-life-in-korea-for-uzbek-scholar"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Sodikov Normatjon, an Uzbek scholar, credits the Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) for opening the door to life in Korea. Inspired by his older brother's experience, this scholarship opportunity helped him navigate the uncertainty of studying abroad. Normatjon arrived in Korea in 2018 and the scholarship program has since aided him in mastering the Korean language, establishing a career, and beginning a family.\n\nBeyond financial assistance, the scholarship provided invaluable support in overcoming linguistic and cultural barriers. Language training and cultural programs were integral to his early adaptation to life in Korea and building connections with locals. During his initial arrival, Normatjon confessed he was unable to speak any Korean. However, the scholarship's yearlong language program at Silla University proved instrumental in bridging that communication gap.",
  "summary": "Sodikov Normatjon had an older brother already studying in Korea when he began exploring scholarship options from Uzbekistan. That early window into Korean university life pointed him toward the Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) and made the prospect of moving abroad feel, if not easy, at least less uncertain. \"GKS was a life-changing opportunity for me,\" Normatjon said during a recent interview…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "GKS becomes gateway to life in Korea for Uzbek scholar",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/10/gks-becomes-gateway-to-life-in-korea-for-uzbek-scholar",
        "published": "2026-08-10T23:07:02.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}