Study Abroad in Seoul, South Korea with WorldStrides

Studying abroad in South Korea was a wonderful experience. Korea is home to some of the most beautiful places I have ever seen, and I was able to experience them thanks to the excursions organized by the WorldStrides team. I loved the cafe culture, the ease and accessibility of transportation, the 24/7 convenience stores, and how safe it felt to walk the streets even at night. The food was amazing, my favorite dish was probably Galbitang with rice and a generous serving of kimchi. It is especially comforting and delicious during the winter. I studied at Sogang University and had a very pleasant experience. The campus is spacious, surrounded by many restaurants, and located in an area with numerous and convenient transportation options.

I had the best summer studying Abroad at Hanyang University through TEAN. I met excellent students from across the US who participated, and they made my experience wholesome. I never felt alone since I had kept company with them. Also, the onsite team were amazing. Euisoo, Hwang, and Chan ensured that we lacked nothing. They were a text away and supported us throughout the program. They also sent out any weather notices or alerts, which I found super helpful. TEAN and Hanyang University's immersive cultural activities allowed me to engage with Korea's traditions and lifestyle. The highlight of my study abroad experience was my classes. I took a "Studies of Korean Society and Culture" class, and I encourage anyone studying at Hanyang University to enroll in this course. It was very insightful; there were lectures and discussions of ancient and modern Korea, among other topics. It allowed me to view Korea objectively and understand why things worked as they did. Also, I loved getting crafty in my ceramics class. That was fun. I am grateful to TEAN for the best summer ever.

Honestly an amazing experience that I can probably say was one of the best eras of my life so far. I got to go to a country I was interested in, meet incredible people that I will probably keep in touch with for a long time, do countless activities all of that while I took classes that were key to my college graduation. I was a little worried about having to figure it all out myself, but I was honestly incredibly thankful to the staff on and off site who were all so nice and helpful. The activities offered are also really great, it really helped to be guided for the first couple of days in a country so far from home where it is easy to get overwhelmed by all there is to do and explore. Korea was very welcoming, even when people do not speak English, and if you don't speak Korea, most of the time they try to help as best as they can. There is also so much to do that is easily accessible; pop up stores in Seongsu, idol birthday cafes in Hongdae, hiking up countless mountains, exploring palaces and older traditional neighborhoods... I feel like there are options for a wide range of people and interests.

I spent July in Seoul, South Korea and my experience was like no other I've had before. I met so many lovely locals and other foreign study-abroad students. One of the most interesting aspects of studying at an international school was meeting students from places I know little about and learning from them about their cultures. There were times when our groups of foreign students attracted unwanted attention from locals in forms such as subtle picture-taking. While this was an issue a few times, it was understandable given the diversity differences between South Korea and our primarily American groups. Overall, everyone we met was super nice and accommodating to us. I found that knowing a bit of Korean was helpful for getting around and having small conversational exchanges but it's not necessary. The classes are in English and there is lots of help from the program to get students set on the right path. I loved the course I took which taught me more about Korean culture and wasn't too difficult, which I appreciated for a summer course. The TEAN program and HISS also set up activities and trips that helped to submerge us in the culture. These were wonderful and ensured that even if we struggled to plan our own excursions, there was something guaranteeing we got out. I never experienced culture shock or became homesick but many students did experience this. I would advise doing research before arriving in Korea to better understand cultural differences. It helped prepare me for my arrival and softened the effect of cultural differences. This is also important for people who aren't sure if they'll feel comfortable in the culture. Looking into the cultural differences (ie. loud speaking) can help choose the best fit for places to spend more extensive periods of time.

I had an incredible time on my study abroad in Seoul! I went to Hanyang University and I loved everything about my experience. Seoul is also very safe, and as a woman, I never felt unsafe walking around by myself, especially at night. The excursions that were included in my program were very nice and fun as well! The academic schedule and courseload were different than I'm used to but the professors are very helpful and are always willing to answer any questions! There is so much to do and so much stuff to see such as Hongdae, Myeongdong, Namsan Tower and so much more. The food is also incredible and there is surprisingly a lot of variety such as Thai food, Indian, Chinese, Japanese, and even some western fast food chains! The cafes were very fun and I definitely spent too much money there.

There is something about South Korea that makes me want to stay forever. I originally came into this semester nervous about what all school and life abroad would demand of me, but I very quickly learned just how much I could and would fit in. I always get asked the question, "why are you an English Literature major studying abroad in South Korea", and to be honest I still ask myself the same question. However, the answer is a loaded one. I chose Korea for many reasons, but no matter what they are, I know I made the right choice. The courses at Hanyang were everything I dreamed of and more. My professors have made me fall in love with literature more and more each lecture and each discussion. I have made local friends that have been generous to teach and welcome me. I have made international friends, like my roommate, that I got to experience all the same firsts with with the same joy and excitement as my own. This whole being abroad thing itself has been a dream opportunity that I know not everyone receives. To say I am truly grateful, I feel is still not enough. Seoul is a city I put on bucket list just a few years ago as I grew more fond of asian culture, so to now say I have studied in such a live and exiting city, in a such a respected institution, is dream I do not want to wake up from. So I have chosen to do just that, not wake up from this dream quite yet. I plan to study here in Seoul another semester, but will be challenging myself in new ways at a new school. I do not know if anything will top my special time here at Hanyang, but my curiosity and love for learning continues to grow no matter where I am so I am excited to stay to see the cherry blossoms bloom in the spring as I also see myself grow in the culture, language, environment, and education I am surrounded by. The only thing I hope to do differently next semester is make the time to explore not just Seoul, but other towns and cities of Korea, city life is fast and exciting and being a student can feel like a full time job, so I think it will be good to get away and slow down to appreciate what else Korea offers.

I had a really great time during my study abroad experience in Seoul, South Korea! I was able to experience academics at one of the best universities in the country and meet a lot of new people from all over the world. I also loved trying the food and the night life that Korea had to offer.

Hanyang University was very welcoming, and I enjoyed every part of the experience studying in Seoul during summer 2023! The activities prepared for us was enriching, fun, and complemented the experience. It was my very first time traveling to another country alone and I was well prepared for that experience. I did not have to worry about food, transportation, or housing. Everything was accessible. The professors were understanding and educated us on how to immerse into the culture and get most out of this trip. The student staff team showed us around and made us feel what it's like to live in this admirable and cherished city which is Seoul. This allowed me to see the world in a different perspective and feel more independent. I can surely say that I know how to prepare for my next solo trip! South Korea is definitely in my list of places to visit again and hopefully reunite with the friends I made during my study abroad experience!

Deciding to study abroad in Seoul, South Korea was one of the greatest decisions I’ve made. This was my first time studying abroad, or even leaving the country, and The Education Abroad Network had an incredible program for me. While studying at Korea University, I took some required electives for my education including art. Taking a basic art class in a different country gave me a new perspective and even changed the way I saw things and thought about things, not only in art but in life too. I grew as a person and became more confident with myself as well as became much more independent. I had never been so far from my parents for that long. I met many really amazing and interesting people while I was in Korea, and everyone’s story was completely different. The schooling was so intense and challenging compared to my normal university, but it gave me a chance to experience the Korean culture even more. The nightlife was another thing I really liked about Korea because it was almost the complete opposite of where I’m from. There, it’s normal to go drink on a work night with friends or your boss. Even if you don’t drink, I definitely recommend going out with friends and seeing the different people having fun together. Seeing people crowd into the subway when it first opens at 5am is also really funny, as some people just sleep on the street. For me personally, 6 weeks wasn't enough in Korea. I had already been interested in South Korea and it was my first time abroad, so I wanted it to be shorter. If you're interested in Korea but don't know if you could spend a whole semester there or if it's your first time abroad with or without family, this is definitely a good fit for you! If you want to have an amazing time, learn about and see a unique culture, and meet amazing people, you should definitely look into going to Korea University