Ho Yun Kang has been on his own for about as long as he can remember. Born in Seoul, South Korea, he convinced his parents to let him go to school in the U.S. by himself when he was 14. More than a decade later, with stops along the way on the East and West coast, he has come closer than ever to realizing his dreams and a triumphant return to his home country.

Kang is a recipient of the UCLA Extension Laurel Hummel Scholarship for International Students, which he used toward the Music Business certificate he will graduate with this June. Established in 2005, the Hummel Scholarship seeks to foster multicultural perspectives in the classroom reflecting today’s global society. Students receive more than $1,500 toward course fees. Kang acknowledged that costs can really stack up for international students, so any amount of financial assistance is huge.

“As international students, there is a lot we need to handle ourselves, and probably the biggest part is financial,” Kang said. “This scholarship is a huge help. When I heard I was selected as a recipient, I was so happy. It was really an exciting moment.”

Kang started along his international journey at a very young age, traveling to England and the Philippines for a study abroad program. It was his experience in those two countries that convinced a young Kang that he would thrive in the U.S. education system. After convincing his parents, he moved to the East Coast and then later went to high school on the West Coast.

Kang has always loved music. He played the clarinet as a child and still has a fondness for classical music. In middle school he picked up the guitar and eventually could play just about every rock band instrument – drums, keyboard, bass – while he and his friends messed around with recording songs for fun to be released on SoundCloud. Ultimately, though, he didn’t see himself as an artist professionally.

“But I knew I would be a part of the music industry, I just didn’t know what I was going to do specifically,” he said. “If I’m not going to be on stage, then I needed to learn how to support the industry and the artists I love.”

Kang went to Babson College in Boston and studied business with an eye toward taking on music from that angle. When he eventually found himself back in Southern California, several people tipped him off to the UCLA Extension Music Business certificate program.

“My passion has always been music, and because I have a business background, I wanted to merge those two and make a little transition in my career,” he said. “I have learned a bunch of great things from the Music Business program – not just on the business side of the industry but also about production and creative work. I’ve met a lot of interesting people.”

After completing the certificate, Kang has one last stop in his American education: Carnegie Mellon University for a masters in entertainment industry management. Then it will be time to take his love of music and the business knowledge that he has accumulated back home to South Korea.

“I will definitely go back,” Kang said. “Right now, my main focus – the music I want to work with – is still Korean music.”

A class assignment at UCLA Extension asked Kang to reflect on what he was going to do after he completed the program. It helped crystallize his next steps.

“It really reminded me of what I want to do,” he said. “I want to build the bridge between Western and Eastern cultures. There are so many Korean artists who aren’t K-Pop Idols and don’t get as much attention as they should – there are really great rock bands, great jazz artists, great R&B singers.”

Kang said he was grateful for the support he has received on his journey: his parents’ blessing his studying abroad; the friends he made in middle and high school that pushed him artistically; the instructors that inspired him; and even support from structures like the Hummel Scholarship.

“One of the greatest assets I have is being independent,” he said. “Moving to the U.S. when I was younger could be lonely, but you can overcome that with good and supportive people in your life.”

For more information visit the Laurel Hummel Scholarship for International Students Webpage and the UCLA Extension Music Business Certificate Program Webpage.