South Korea : Reviews (Seoul)

I loved how easy and simple it was to travel around all of Korea while I was there. There is so much to do just in Seoul but I loved taking small weekend trips to the countryside and other major cities. With Korea University mainly only having classes Monday through Thursday, the three day weekends left for plenty of time to travel and sightsee.

Experiencing Seoul and South Korea was an amazing journey. Living there has given me a new appreciation for South Korea and Korean culture.

My favorite part of this study abroad program was immersing myself in the language. Studying the language while living in its country of origin was one of the most enriching experiences of my life.

The aspect of this program I found most rewarding was becoming more confident and comfortable navigating around in a foreign language.

I think the most rewarding aspect of the program was the amazing location. Korea University is located just slightly on the outskirts of the heart of Seoul which gives the perfect opportunity to go travel around Seoul. The university has its own station and numerous bus stops that make it so easy to hop on an go.

Living and studying in a new country was very difficult. But the process by which I learned and experienced life independently was a challenge I gladly took on.

KUBA and Korea University's dedicated Global Services staff were extremely helpful in ensuring I had a successful, fun, and stress-free semester.

South Korea is cold in the winter. It may seem obvious but I wasn't prepared for how cold the weather got once November came around; bring, or buy, lots of warm clothes! Also don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone. Especially during the beginning of the program I was scared to do things on my own but I found that exploring on my own helped me grow and become more independent as the semester went on.

Even though you may not have your Alien Registration Card (ARC) immediately upon arrival, don't be afraid to still take this time to travel around Korea. I thought I needed the ARC to travel anywhere outside of Seoul but this is not the case. You only need it to travel to other countries. I felt like I wasted a lot of time seeing other cities and would say to make friends and start exploring right away!

Take some time for yourself and explore the country you are visiting. The mountains and architecture in Korea was beautiful and incomparable to anything in the United States. I would imagine by exploring the country any student is visiting would lead to unique experiences for them.

Knowing at least a few phrases of Korean and how to read it will be immensely helpful. Many students at Korea University did not know any Korean, which would have been burdensome for them I imagine.