Winter Foreign Language Study Abroad Programs in South Korea

Traveling to South Korea with TEAN was an unforgettable experience. I never imagined myself studying abroad, but I’m so grateful that I took the leap. I made lifelong friends and had the chance to explore so many incredible places—both on my own and through the program’s activities. Before going, I was nervous about stepping into something so new and unfamiliar, but everything turned out better than I could have hoped. Even now, the friends I met still talk about how much we miss South Korea. The trip truly shaped my life in ways I’ll carry with me forever, and I can’t wait for the day I get to go back.

TEAN was the perfect choice for my first time leaving the country. They made the entire process smooth and guided you along the way on zoom for applying for a visa and registering in courses. It made the entire process stress free--I couldn't recommend them enough! My time in Korea was spent traveling every weekend, and I really feel like I got the most out of my 4.5 months there and in turn became extremely confident planning trips. Both program coordinators Kakao talk IDs' were available, and they were always available to give recommendations and would respond fast. The on-campus housing in the Anam international dorm was clean and had updated facilities. The downstairs also had a kitchen you could store food in. As for academics, my teachers were very kind. I would recommend going to office hours for any non Korean courses you take because it makes understanding the grading easier. They were always willing to work with me!

Before coming to Korea, I was a picky eater. However, given a unique situation and a positive mindset towards new experiences, I tried new foods and enjoyed eating seafood for the first time. If you're unsure about studying abroad in Korea, you should go for it and enjoy the experience of being in a new country. I explored a new culture and ate fresh foods I would never find in the US for a lower price. I recommend checking out night markets, new districts, and social media to find hidden restaurants serving unique foods. Overall, this program has provided me with the opportunity to discover new things and given me an experience that I will never forget.

I think one thing people don’t tell you when you study abroad is how quickly the extraordinary becomes routine. At first, everything is new; every street corner, every meal, every cultural difference feels like an adventure. In Korea, I was awed by the towering peaks of Bukhansan, the neon-lit streets of Seoul, and the centuries-old palaces that stood as reminders of a rich and complex history. Each day felt like a discovery, from tasting tteokbokki at a street stall to navigating public transportation in a foreign language. But after a while, the novelty starts to fade. The subway routes become second nature, the sounds of a new language shift from overwhelming to background noise, and the once-exciting challenge of ordering food turns into just another part of the day. That’s when you realize the true essence of studying abroad, it’s not just about the grand adventures, but about embracing the everyday moments in a different culture. For me, those mundane moments became the most meaningful. Studying in a café tucked away in a quiet alley, sharing inside jokes with new friends from across the world, finding comfort in a familiar park bench, going to church on Sunday, these are the things that stick with me. It’s not just about climbing literal mountains, but about navigating the highs and lows of adapting to a new way of life. And when it’s time to leave, you realize that what once felt foreign has somehow become home.

I think one thing people don’t tell you when you study abroad is how quickly the extraordinary becomes routine. At first, everything is new; every street corner, every meal, every cultural difference feels like an adventure. In Korea, I was awed by the towering peaks of Bukhansan, the neon-lit streets of Seoul, and the centuries-old palaces that stood as reminders of a rich and complex history. Each day felt like a discovery, from tasting tteokbokki at a street stall to navigating public transportation in a foreign language. But after a while, the novelty starts to fade. The subway routes become second nature, the sounds of a new language shift from overwhelming to background noise, and the once-exciting challenge of ordering food turns into just another part of the day. That’s when you realize the true essence of studying abroad, it’s not just about the grand adventures, but about embracing the everyday moments in a different culture. For me, those mundane moments became the most meaningful. Studying in a café tucked away in a quiet alley, sharing inside jokes with new friends from across the world, finding comfort in a familiar park bench, going to church on Sunday, these are the things that stick with me. It’s not just about climbing literal mountains, but about navigating the highs and lows of adapting to a new way of life. And when it’s time to leave, you realize that what once felt foreign has somehow become home.

This program was absolutely amazing! The program had tons of fantastic trips and learning opportunities. The program managers were super helpful and involved in our experience. They were always available and responsive when we needed help! The school was at times difficult to communicate with as a foreigner, but TEAN staff were always able to help. I would recommend this program to anyone who wants to study in Korea!

Participating in the Korea University Summer Program was one of the best life decisions I've ever made. For one, this experience made more independent and self-confident. Stepping out of my comfort zone to try new things and navigate through many obstacles such as language barriers and culture shocks allowed me to grow proud of myself and be more confident that I can accomplish more in my future travel journeys. The cultural activities hosted both by TEAN and Korea University made the trip even more special. Some activities include a weekend trip to Busan, a day trip to Lotte World, and attending a baseball game with other students. All the activities I engaged allowed me to embrace Korean culture and learn about its history in a non-intimidating way. Making connections with different types of people was also a highlight of this experience. I made connections and new friendships with Korean locals and students of different cultural backgrounds. They allowed me to develop connections with Korean locals and other abroad students. Everyone I met along the way was super welcoming and made my study abroad journey even more exciting. If you’re looking for a summer or a short-term study abroad program, I highly recommend this one!

Everything about the summer study abroad program was truly life changing. I feel forever grateful that I got the opportunity to study abroad in a country i’ve always wanted to travel to and learn from. I would recommend anyone to do this program

I studied abroad in Seoul, South Korea with TEAN and wish I could do it all over again. The TEAN staff made the process of obtaining my required documents and entry into the country much easier than I had anticipated, and when I had difficulty with course registration at the beginning of my semester, the TEAN staff was able to help me by speaking to the university, and the university made exceptions for me which was almost unheard of. TEAN also included activities and excursions, and gave students plenty of opportunities to meet other students and make friends. I loved being in South Korea. The food was delicious and affordable, the public transportation was very clean and convenient, the people were very polite and welcoming, and the city overall was beautiful and fun to explore. I would highly recommend visiting Seoul, and I would recommend doing so with TEAN.

The program's staff was very supportive before and throughout my entire study abroad trip. When applying for the program, I would send an email and they would respond right away on any questions regarding the application process. While in Korea, the staff was very friendly and willing to help me out when I had any questions or needed their assistance, they consistently made themselves available and supported me throughout my study abroad experience. They organized many activities and it was evident that every staff member was genuinely eager about connecting and engaging with the students.

I loved my summer experience in South Korea! I went to Yonsei university for 4 weeks. A small number of students chose my program, so we hung out a lot together. Traveling to a new country can be intimidating and overwhelming. However, being with a group of people who are experiencing the same thing can help diminish the anxieties of being in a new country. In the first week, we did almost everything together or in small groups until we felt confident and comfortable enough to do things on our own. I tried several new foods! Some of my favorite foods were bulgogi, bibimbap, tanghulu, bingsu, japchae, and korean bbq. In addition to new friends and foods, I was able to see beautiful temples, palaces, and hanok villages. I loved visiting the historic places of South Korea, because they are very different from historical places in the USA. While Seoul offers so much to see, I recommend exploring outside of Seoul as well! I loved going to Gyeongju, once the capital of the Silla dynasty, to see all the historical structures. I also liked going to Busan and seeing the Gamcheon Cultural Village. While I wished I could have explored more of the places on my list in Busan, it was a pretty city to explore. Some of my favorite places in Seoul were Eunpyeong hanok village, Gangnam, and Hongdae. My group explored Hongdae a lot because our accommodation was located in Seogyo, which was only a 10-minute walk from Hongdae. Furthermore, I loved our accommodation! We all had our own rooms, and the accommodation was close to Hongdae, our campus (30 minutes by bus), and other popular locations. One thing to keep in mind is that once it hits July, South Korea becomes extremely hot and humid. Rain is also common during this season. I recommend bringing a poncho or rain jacket! When it rains, it pours, and the wind can be strong too, which can break or invert your umbrella. A poncho can also protect your backpack from getting soaked. Overall, I enjoyed my trip to South Korea. I was very thankful to TEAN for helping me whenever I had a question or problem. If I were to ever to visit South Korea again, I would want to hike more in Seoul as well as other cities I wasn't able to visit. Enjoy your time there because it goes by quickly!

My experience of studying abroad truly felt like a dream. When I think about my time there, I feel so endlessly grateful for the life I lived and all of the lessons I have learned. I went for my spring semester junior year, I arrived in late February and left in late June. I experienced winter, spring, and summer in Korea and it was the most magical thing ever. School started in early March, and every day after classes my friends and I would go explore the city, go to cafes to do homework, shop for our daily necessities and so much more. Every day was filled with adventure and meaningful moments. I enjoyed the time I spent alone exploring the city, all of the precious moments between people, and the beauty of the city. I miss Korea and my life there, and I am so grateful for TEAN and all of their help along the way.

I had a great time studying in Seoul. As a STEM-major, classes were a bit more time consuming than I had anticipated but, I enjoyed my experience and learned so much about the culture. It was very easy to meet people, and make new friends. I liked how safe it felt, especially when traveling to other parts of Korea such as going to Jeju, Sokcho, and Busan. This experience allowed me to learn more about myself, and I feel more confident and care-free to travel.

During my time abroad I got to try many famous Korean dishes. Even with my previous knowledge of Korean cuisine, nothing beats the real thing. From eating at popular restaurants, pop-ups, street food vendors, etc. I would even recommend going to South Korea just to eat.

I chose to study abroad through TEAN in Seoul, South Korea as a student at Korea University. During the 2022-2023 semester, living in Seoul became my new home. At first, I was alone, but as I took learning the language more seriously, and was comfortable adapting to the culture change, I was able to make lots of friends. Making friends with the natives boosted my experiences. I was able to visit local cafes, restaurants, and pop-up shops around Seoul. Also, it is hard not to indulge and spend all of your money. After living in Seoul for a year, I did not feel so much like a foreigner anymore. I was extremely grateful for the help through TEAN by making my trip and transition to arriving in Seoul both semesters easy. I also participated in the Seoul, Winter Program and hosted through TEAN during 2023-2024 at Korea University again. If it were not for choosing to study abroad, I believe I would not have developed my new goal of returning to my host university, Korea University, as a graduate student after graduating with my undergraduate.

I am so thankful I got the opportunity to study abroad in Seoul, South Korea fall 2023. It was an experience I won't forget. I'm very thankful to have experienced it with TEAN. They gave students enough guidance, resources, and information pre-departure and during my time studying abroad. I felt ready and equipped for departure from the States. During my time, I always felt that TEAN had my back and whenever I had questions, there was always someone to go to. I think TEAN did a really good job giving international students the best experience in Seoul. All of the things I wanted to do, TEAN had already planned and thought of. The best part is that it's already paid for through the program so all the cultural excursions and activities planned throughout the semester was basically 'free'. I would definitely do it all over again!

I truly had the best time studying abroad in Seoul for a semester. There is so much to do and explore in Seoul and I definitely want to go back someday! I'm really grateful for the support that TEAN gave me, from helping me with documents and housing to picking me up at the airport, and organizing fun activities to meet new people! This was my first time traveling on my own and it was nice to have support and the TEAN community, especially when getting adjusted to a new country. They showed us how to use the subway and navigate our classes and quickly we became independent students exploring the city on our own! For school, I mainly took political science, history, and Korean language classes. The professors were engaging and I learned a lot. There wasn't really any homework, which was nice for afternoon and weekend adventures, but I did have to study hard for midterms and finals. Also, I always felt safe everywhere I went in Korea, even late at night. The food was delicious and I was always able to find a vegetarian option, which was important to me. Seoul is a great city to study abroad to learn about a new culture and meet people from around the world. I am so glad that I did and it will be a time that I will always look back on and never forget!

While studying in South Korea, I got the chance to make many new friends, both from Korea and places all over the world! I made some amazing memories with everyone I met, but something that I realized I got that my international friends didn't is the extra support from TEAN. Every time I would talk to my friends about the exciting things TEAN planned for us, they would ask me more about the program and said they wished they could have had something similar. We also got extra support with logistical things that other international students had to do alone such as applying for housing, applying for the visa, the arrival process (and getting a ride from the airport to campus), and applying for the residential card. All the steps for studying abroad were difficult enough, so I can't imagine how stressed I would have been if TEAN didn't help!

It had been a long term dream of mine to study in South Korea, and TEAN made what would have otherwise been a very stressful and scary process much easier. I was so glad to have them as an intermediate taking care of the complicated details. However, because they cater to American students, upon arrival it made more of a wedge between us and the local students. I can speak Korean almost fluently, so I tried my best to overcome it on my own, but especially with group outings, you just feel like an unwelcome, messy and loud group of tourists. I ended up doing more and having a better time alone than with a bunch of Americans.

I'm not sure where to start. My first time studying abroad and even flying alone for the first time was with TEAN. TEAN helped me throughout most of the process, I was not hesitant to ask questions from the advisors. TEAN staff were extremely kind and helpful, especially while abroad. I would get lost in the subway and ask for help or language barrier issues on the subway machines and the TEAN staff were quick with their response. The cultural events in TEAN were great and even though one of the events were cancelled due to rain, they were able to quickly schedule another event and even refunded the people who were only 4 week program (because it was cancelled during their last week.) The process was easy, I definitely would recommend TEAN especially if this is your first time leaving the country alone. I was nervous, but TEAN helped those nerves.