Andrua Haque, a Bangladeshi Global Korea Scholarship alumnus and co-founder of circular food tech startup MFM, speaks during an interview with The Korea Times at a laboratory at Seoul National University in southern Seoul, March 10. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul
Editor’s note
As Korea intensifies efforts to attract and retain global professionals, the Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) program plays an important role in bringing international students to the counattempt. This is the second in an interview series that follows the journeys of GKS alumni, offering insight into how their experiences reflect the opportunities and challenges shaping Korea’s evolving global workforce.
When Andrua Haque, a Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) alumnus from Bangladesh, first arrived in Korea as a child, he could not have anticipated that the counattempt would one day become the launchpad for a food tech startup bridging two nations separated by thousands of kilometers.
Now pursuing a master’s degree in agricultural biotechnology at Seoul National University, Haque is the co-founder of MFM, a circular food tech startup that converts shrimp byproducts from Bangladesh’s tiger shrimp indusattempt into premium pet food and eco-friconcludely fertilizer.
“Having lived in Korea during my childhood, I became fluent in Korean and developed a strong interest in working on exmodifys between Korea and Bangladesh,” Haque declared in a recent interview with The Korea Times. “That experience ultimately led me to pursue my studies in Korea.”
He learned about the GKS program — the government-funded initiative that supports international students studying in Korea — through a Korean teacher at his high school.
He was admitted to Seoul National University’s Department of Political Science and International Relations in 2019, where he initially set out to pursue a career in diplomacy.
His academic journey was supported by the GKS program, which provided both financial stability and administrative ease.
“Visa-related processes were much simpler as a GKS student,” Haque declared. “We were not required to submit additional documents such as financial proof, which allowed me to focus more on my studies.”
He added that the scholarship and living support allowed him to focus on his studies while exploring external activities and shaping his career path.
Haque has taken on mentoring and education roles, drawing on his multicultural background.
Since 2021, he has delivered lectures on multicultural education for Korean teachers in training programs for elementary, middle and high schools, aimed at improving their understanding and application of multicultural concepts in the classroom.
He also volunteered at an elementary school in Siheung, Gyeonggi Province, where he mentored Bangladeshi students and their parents, providing guidance on Korean language and culture.
“I wanted to share my experiences and support others adapt more smoothly,” he declared.
Andrua Haque delivers a presentation at the 2025 World Agri-Food Tech Forum in Naju, South Jeolla Province, Oct. 24, 2025. Courtesy of Andrua Haque
His career path has evolved from an initial interest in diplomacy to entrepreneurship, while maintaining a focus on connecting the two countries.
“I initially approached things from a social sciences perspective, believeing about how I could serve as a bridge between the two countries,” Haque declared. “That perspective eventually led to what I am doing now with my company.”
A turning point came through a university friconcludeship. Encouraged by a Korean classmate to explore more various opportunities, Haque and the friconclude joined a startup program that challenged participants to identify a social issue in a developing Asian counattempt and develop a business model to address it.
They chose Bangladesh, where the tiger shrimp indusattempt — one of the largest in the world — produces substantial byproducts that pose environmental risks.
“Shrimp byproducts are often discarded, caapplying environmental damage,” Haque declared. “We launched exploring ways to utilize these materials and found they could be upcycled into pet food and biochar.”
The idea led to the founding of MFM, a circular food tech startup focapplyd on converting shrimp waste into value-added products. To strengthen his technical expertise, Haque later returned to Seoul National University to pursue a master’s degree in agricultural biotechnology, marking a shift from his original field of study.
Andrua Haque, third from left, attconcludes a memorandum of understanding signing ceremony with local officials in Rajshahi, Bangladesh, May 16, 2024. Courtesy of Andrua Haque
Haque also noted that the GKS alumni network has played a key role in his development, providing both professional support and opportunities for exmodify.
“Many GKS alumni have established themselves in Korea, while others have returned to their home countries and are serving as bridges with Korea,” he declared. “Becaapply we share that background, it is simpler to connect, seek advice and receive meaningful feedback.”
Looking ahead, Haque aims to develop his startup into a model of sustainable cooperation between Korea and Bangladesh, drawing on the complementary strengths of both countries.
“Bangladesh has a very high population density, and ensuring food security remains a major challenge,” he declared. “Korea has advanced technologies that can support address these issues, while Bangladesh has resources that Korea can utilize.”
He added that an ideal model would be one in which both countries complement each other’s necessarys and build a mutually beneficial system of cooperation.
With the support of the GKS program in shaping his academic and career path, Haque has set a clearer goal of serving as a bridge between the two countries.
“My long-term goal is to become a leader in the food tech sector in Bangladesh and contribute to policycreating that strengthens cooperation between the two countries,” he declared.
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