Busan University of Foreign Studies Supporting Ukrainian Students

BUFS is helping Ukrainian students suffering difficulties following the invasion by Russia

Managing Editor Kang Hyun-gi

kangcandace@naver.com

Recently, a lot of universities have actively helped Ukrainian students following the invasion by Russia and Busan University of Foreign Studies is no exception. Students from Ukraine are very worried because many of them have lost contact with their families as the war with Russia in Ukraine continues. In addition, many are having difficulty continuing their studies due to foreign currency restrictions.

One Ukrainian student studying at BUFS said that her hometown had been attacked by Russian forces and she had to cancel her plan to go to back to her hometown and meet her family for a vacation. Even more, it is hard to get in touch with people in Ukraine via the Internet. This is currently considered as a serious big problem.

Currently, Busan Foreign University has 1,140 international students from 65 countries, along with four international students from Ukraine, including students taking degree courses, language courses and exchange students. BUFS administration said that Ukrainian students need support for their safety and protection, especially considering that Ukrainian students cannot receive financial support from their home countries and their families due to the current war situation. In conclusion, BUFS has decided to support the entire dormitory fees and tuition fees for Korean language students. In addition, one graduate student who completed graduate school in February, 2022, will be allowed to continue living in the dormitory in the first semester, and will also be exempt from dormitory fees in the second semester.

Heo Young-eun, head of the International Student Support Team at BUFS, said, "I hope that the decision will be a help for those students who have faced economic difficulties and extreme anxiety over the situation." Additionally, Kim Hong-koo, president of BUFS, said, "Use of force that causes innocent human casualties cannot be justified in any case. We hope that the invasion of Ukraine will be solved peacefully as soon as possible.“