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Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs Kwon Oh-eul attends the second meeting of the Republic of Korea 2045 Strategy Formulation Committee held at the Government Complex Seoul in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 12th. / Yonhap

The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs announced on the 23rd that it has decided to proceed as planned with a scholarship program for descendants of persons of meritorious service to national independence, which had previously been subject to a business review due to Starbucks' "May 18 Tank Day" controversy.

An official from the ministry said on that day, "This project began under a three-year MOU, and this year is the final year," adding, "Many people are waiting for the scholarships, which is why we decided to proceed again."

In August 2023, the ministry signed an agreement with Starbucks and the Korea National Council on Social Welfare, paying a total of 100 million won in scholarships—2 million won each to 50 descendants of persons of meritorious service to national independence—in 2024 and 2025, respectively. However, following the controversy over Starbucks' "Tank Day" marketing last May, Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs Kwon Oh-eul personally declared that the scholarship program would be reviewed.

According to the ministry's written response regarding the resumption of the scholarship project, submitted to the office of People Power Party Representative Shin Dong-uk, the ministry completed verbal consultations on pushing forward with the project on the 18th. Specific details, such as recruitment announcements and scholarship award ceremonies, are to be finalized after consultations following the receipt of official documents from relevant organizations.

With the resumption of the program, the ministry and Starbucks plan to select 50 descendants of persons of meritorious service to national independence facing financial hardship in the second half of this year and provide a total of 100 million won in scholarships.

                                                                                                              Lee Han-sol