Wookjae Jung (SFS ’15) is one of 147 students worldwide to win the Schwarzman Scholarship, which provides recipients with full tuition to attend Tsinghua University in Beijing for a yearlong master’s degree in public policy, economics and business, or international studies.

Roughly 5 percent of this year’s 2,800 applicants received a scholarship, making it “one of the most selective postgraduate scholarships in the world,” according to a post on Georgetown’s website.

As past of the scholarship, Jung will complete classes in leadership, Chinese history and government at Tsinghua. Jung is excited to learn not only of China’s history spanning thousands of years but more about its evolving modern society, he wrote in an email to The Hoya.

“China is more of a civilization than a country. The history and diversity are something that I am excited to explore once I’m in Beijing,” Jung wrote. “I want to know what China is like today, and get to know the Chinese people and the society of our generation.”

Jung was a competitive candidate because he embodies qualities the Schwarzman Scholarship looks for in its candidates, according to Laura Perille, assistant director of the Georgetown Office of Fellowships, Awards and Resources. Specifically, Perille commended Jung for his leadership potential and ability to connect individuals from diverse backgrounds.

“Wookjae Jung stands out for that potential, having not only played a critical role in high-level government negotiations and ventures through his work with the Ministry of National Defense in South Korea but also created and managed the Salon Nomad Project, a social networking platform for artists, professionals, and businesses,” Perille wrote in an email to The Hoya.

Although the Schwarzman does not require university endorsement, GOFAR works closely with applicants from Georgetown to ensure they are competitive in the application process, according to Perille.

Jung majored in international political economy in the School of Foreign Service and later became a Korean Air Force officer following his graduation. Jung is the fourth Georgetown graduate to receive the scholarship since its inception in 2016. Former winners include Jose Luna (SFS ’15), Zachary Kay (SFS ’16) and Zezhou Cai (GRD ’18).

Jung intends to use his experiences from the scholarship to allow him to expand on his work with the Korean Air Force, he told Georgetown.

“I wish to continue doing that kind of work, presenting new solutions that will bring actors together towards an optimal social goal,” Jung said.