Amorepacific Foundation, chaired by Seo Kyung-bae, announced on the 17th that it has selected three emerging researchers for the 2026 Changwon Humanities Scholars program. The award ceremony took place at the Amorepacific headquarters in Yongsan, Seoul, reinforcing the company's commitment to academic support and talent development within the humanities sector.

Since its inception in 2020, the Changwon Humanities Scholars initiative has underscored the importance of foundational research and talent cultivation—a vision championed by the late chairman Suh Sung-hwan, founder of Amorepacific. This year's solicitation, which closed in February, attracted approximately 90 applications from candidates who have obtained their Ph.D. degrees within the last five years. A selection committee, comprised of distinguished scholars in humanities, rigorously reviewed applications through both written assessments and interviews.

The selected scholars include Kim Min-young from Seoul National University’s Department of Korean Language and Literature, Namgoong Seungwon from the Department of History at Seoul National University, and Hong Ji-soo from Brown University’s Department of History. Each researcher was recognized for their unique research perspectives and significant potential for academic development.

Over the next four years, each Changwon Humanities Scholar will receive a monthly research grant of 4 million KRW. Unlike traditional research grants that often require specific outputs such as papers or books, this program encourages scholars to choose their own research topics freely, thereby enabling them to focus on their intellectual pursuits without constraints. This distinctive approach not only sets this initiative apart from conventional research funding schemes but also prioritizes the potential of new researchers in fostering innovative and impactful scholarship.

The award ceremony was attended by Seo Kyung-bae, alongside foundation board members, including professors Lee Seok-jae, Min Eun-kyung, and Koo Bum-jin from Seoul National University, who presented the research grant certificates and expressed their encouragement to the recipients.

Lee Seok-jae, chair of the selection committee and a professor at Seoul National University’s Department of Philosophy, remarked, “Providing researchers with a stable foundation is the first step towards establishing a pure basic research ecosystem. We will continue to support socially meaningful research at the foundation level.” His comments reflect a broader industry trend toward nurturing innovative academic environments that align with evolving societal needs.