Noh Yoo-sun, the SNU College dean overseeing the launch of the Global Talent Division, told The Korea Herald that the university is considering full tuition coverage together with a 1 million‑won monthly stipend for the first foreign‑only cohort. The proposal is still under discussion, but it signals a strong financial commitment to incoming students.

SNU expects the first cohort to include about 36 students and has identified Vietnam as one of five priority recruitment markets. Faculty and staff are scheduled to travel to Vietnam in January 2027 to present admissions guidelines, showing the university’s focused outreach.

Noh said the scholarship is meant to attract top international talent, noting that some Vietnamese students who were admitted to SNU chose to enroll at KAIST instead; about nine students made that choice. He stressed that the level of support can be decisive in a student’s decision.

The programme will require students to spend two to three semesters in intensive Korean‑language and foundational courses before they move into their chosen majors. During this pre‑major period, tuition will be fully covered, according to Noh.

Vietnamese students are now the biggest group of international learners in South Korea. They make up 31.5 % of the 307,464 foreign students, according to Education Ministry data released in August.