Sodikov Normatjon had an older brother already studying in Korea when he began exploring scholarship options from Uzbekistan. That early window into Korean university life pointed him toward the Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) and made the prospect of moving abroad feel, if not easy, at least less uncertain. "GKS was a life-changing opportunity for me," Normatjon said during a recent interview with The Korea Times. "Studying abroad can bring financial and cultural uncertainties, but the scholarship took away much of that burden and allowed me to focus fully on my studies." Normatjon arrived in Korea in 2018 and the program has since helped him learn Korean, build a career and start a family in the country. Beyond financial support, the scholarship also helped him navigate the linguistic and cultural challenges of living abroad. Its Korean-language training and cultural programs gave him an early foundation for adapting to life in Korea and connecting with people in the country. "When I first came to Korea, I couldn't speak any Korean," he said. A yearlong language program at Silla Universi