The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology announced Sunday (June 21) that Kang Dong-gu, a thirty-year-old biochemistry major of Chungbuk National University, was selected for a Newton International Fellowship bestowed by the Royal Society of the United Kingdom (UK).

Kang took part in Korea-UK research in biotechnology jointly overseen by the Education Ministry and the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills of the UK, travelling between the two countries for seminars and research since 2007.

“The latest result is fruit of much cooperative research between the two countries,” one official at the Education Ministry said.

The Royal Society selects 50 researchers every year for the New International Fellowship and provides research assistance of 50,000 pounds (about 100 million Korean won) for the next two years in the UK. Even after returning home, Kang will be entitled to receive 6,000 pounds (12 million won) per year for the next 10 years to keep up the joint research and networking.

Kang will begin his research at Imperial College London this August.