[Edaily Reporter Kyung Gye-young] The Amorepacific Foundation announced on the 18th that it has selected the researchers for the 6th cohort of the “Jangwon Humanities Scholars” program for 2026.

The Jangwon Humanities Scholars Support Program was launched in 2020 to carry on the legacy of the late Chairman Seo Seong-hwan, founder of Amorepacific and the foundation, who emphasized the importance of supporting basic research and nurturing talent. The program targets emerging researchers who have earned their Ph.D. within the past five years.

Among approximately 90 applicants this year, three researchers were selected: Kim Min-young from the Department of Korean Language and Literature at Seoul National University, Namgung Seung-won from the Department of History at Seoul National University, and Hong Ji-soo from the Department of History at Brown University.

The foundation will provide each selected researcher with a monthly research grant of 4 million won for the next four years. There is no requirement to produce research outcomes in the form of papers or books, and researchers are free to choose their own topics. This program distinguishes itself from existing research support initiatives by focusing on the potential of emerging researchers and providing them with a stable environment in which to devote themselves to self-defined research topics.

The grant certificate presentation ceremony, held the previous day at the #Amorepacific headquarters in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, was attended by Foundation Chairman Seo Kyung-bae and Seoul National University professors Lee Seok-jae, Min Eun-kyung, and Koo Beom-jin, who serve on the Foundation’s board of directors.

Lee Seok-jae, a professor in the Department of Philosophy at Seoul National University and Chair of the Planning Committee, stated, “Supporting researchers in establishing a stable research foundation is the starting point for fostering an ecosystem for pure basic research,” adding, “We will continue to provide support at the foundation level to ensure that socially meaningful research can be conducted on an ongoing basis.”