Study Abroad in South Korea

My experience studying abroad in South Korea was so much more than I could have ever expected. Honestly, I went into it thinking I would just try a bunch of new foods and do some sightseeing. However, it ended up being so much more than that. I attended Hanyang University, where I met so many amazing people and formed friendships that I know will last a lifetime. One thing I quickly realized was that everyone around me was in a similar position. We all wanted to explore, try new things, and make the most of our time in Korea. Because of that, it was incredibly easy to connect with people and build meaningful friendships. Before I knew it, my schedule was completely filled. Every day brought something new, whether it was visiting a different city, trying a new restaurant, going on a hike, or simply meeting someone new. For me, this was far outside my comfort zone. I had never traveled internationally before, and I barely knew how to speak Korean. However, the people around me made the experience so much easier. I probably asked more questions than I could count, and I'm sure I annoyed a few people along the way, but everyone was always kind and willing to help. Overall, studying abroad in South Korea taught me that there is so much more to a country than what you see on the surface. Being able to experience Korean culture firsthand, explore new places, and share those moments with friends made the experience truly unforgettable. What I originally thought would just be a few months of traveling and studying turned into one of the most meaningful experiences of my life.

I honestly loved my time in Seoul. It was an amazing experience and it really opened my eyes to what’s outside of the United States. I was also able to travel to Japan (twice) and Thailand, so I really got to see different cultures.

Hi! My name is Lily Nevarez, and I am a Biochemistry student at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP). I love cooking, makeup, K-dramas, learning new languages, and, most importantly, exploring and experiencing new cultures. During my study abroad experience, I had the opportunity to spend an entire Wintermester in Seoul, South Korea, where I studied at Yonsei University. Yonsei is one of the most prestigious and iconic universities in South Korea, and if you are interested in Korean culture and studying abroad, it is definitely a university I would recommend exploring. I really recommend going to Yonsei with Worldstries because I think it has a program in which you can learn about and study the culture at the same time, here below is a video of my day to day life.

I went to Korea University over the summer and it's safe to say it was the best summer yet. WorldStrides was extremely helpful and accommodating throughout the whole process. Their excursions were a lot of fun and gave me the opportunity to meet other students that came with WorldStrides as well. The staff was always available when needed and knew what to do when asked questions. The summer was so much fun, I got to travel all over Seoul and make memories everyday! I cannot recommend this enough!

My time at Sogang University through WorldStrides was the most impactful, life-changing, and rewarding experience I have ever had. Beyond my incredible course studying K-Pop, Hallyu, and the way it has spread across the globe, I found so much joy going and experiencing everyday life in Korea. From the beautiful temples to practicing my Korean with locals, I cherished every moment I had during my time there. I was always taken care of, supported, and felt like I was truly cared for by the on-site team, from airport pickup to organized activities (including a super fun excursion to Nami Island!). I would do anything to go back again and re-experience the entire thing!

This was one of the best experiences of my life. I spent a month in Seoul and took classes at Hanyang University. I felt very immersed in the culture and made so many new friends from all over the world. I took a Korean traditional fan dancing class while I was there, and it was so much fun to learn and perform at the graduation ceremony. We also got to go to Jeju Island during the trip, which was so amazing. It was really interesting to see an island filled with so much history.

My experience in Seoul was amazing, I had so much fun exploring and with my fellow WorldStrides attendees. Together we explored different parts of Seoul, tried new foods, experienced Korean culture and got to experience what daily life is like in South Korea. Being able to learn both inside and outside the classroom made an experience even more meaningful for me. One of the most memorable parts of my trip was exploring Seoul on my own. I spent an entire day navigating the city by myself, using the subway system, ordering meals in Korean, asking for directions, and visiting places I had previously only seen on social media. The WorldStrides team also made the experience much easier and less overwhelming. They provided clear instructions, answered my questions, and were always there when I needed support. Knowing that I had people I could turn to allowed me to focus less on the logistics and more on enjoying Seoul, learning about Korean culture, and making the most of my experience.

I studied abroad in Seoul, South Korea at Sogang University through WorldStrides!! I had the most incredible, unforgettable experience studying Korean music globalization, exploring the country, and immersing myself completely in the culture. Thanks to Sogang and to WorldStrides, I was taken care of every single step of the way and had an experience I’ll miss every single day!

I have been here in LTL South Korea for about 2 months and it has been a really great experience. When I first chose to join LTL over a standard Korean university, I was worried about the quality of teaching that I would received because honestly I have had mediocre experiences before. I think good teachers can be really hard to come by. But my teacher 고민지 선생님, was honestly perfect for my learning styile and has really helped me improve my Korean. She always puts in the extra effort to make sure we understand the material. In the past, I have taken Korean courses both in America and in Korea, but I have never learned as fast as I have with her so I am really grateful. In our small group setting she talks to each student and makes sure that we all get our speaking practice in. She is always attentive to her students and I always feel that she is super passionate and about teaching. Even if I am slacking on studying or low energy class is still really fun. In the past my Korean courses never really provided speaking practice. But because of the small groups, we are able to do it very well. She also explains the nuances of Korean which I feel as a foreigner is a really difficult concept to grasp.. I really truly think that is such a great teacher. Actually at first I also wondered about the length of the classes because I thought 4 hours would be long. But time really goes by fast. I was also pretty worried that I wouldn’t be in the right level for learning Korean. But the staff were really accommodating in our Korean to ensure that we were getting the right teacher for our levels. I personally was put in the level fit for me, but I’ve seen a lot of students change levels a lot of they needed. Which I think is great because my other programs never let us switch levels.. and that was really frustrating for me in the past. With the LTL program every monday, wednesday, and friday we are able to eat lunch together as a group. One of the first staff I met was 최지은 (we call her Violet) and she was so kind! I felt really welcomed and she is usually the person who takes us to lunch. We both bonded over our love for K-pop (haha). We always go somewhere nearby the school for lunch. There are also many activities after morning classes. A lot of the activities are tourist activities, so these days I don’t really join as often as I used to, but in the start of the program I was a little shy so it was fun to join and make some friends. Everyone is from somewhere different so I always had fun conversations. Another nice thing I have been able to do is just stay in the building a study in an empty classroom. My teacher recommended it to me after I told her I had a difficult time studying at my place. I love the location of the building as well because its in Hongdae, so theres just so many things I can do after class. I would definitely come back again and hopefully I am able to next summer. It is definitely more affordable compared other schools and while other programs offer all day excursions and such, personally I don’t have a strong interest in that. So I would definitely recommend this program if anyone is considering it especially if you have been to Korea before.

LTL Language School responded to this reviewJuly 30, 2026

So pleased you had a great time with us at LTL Seoul and with your teacher 고민지 선생님. It's a pleasure to read such a positive story and we're so glad you bonded with the team over common interests too!! Please come back again and let's improve together again. Don't forget to study Korean hard back home too :) Best wishes, LTL Team

Best languageschool experience! Communication: Top! Even before booking fast and helpful response (in your mother tongue), in Seoul the team is sooo helpful. Whatever question you have...they are present and help. You are totally lost somewhere in the city? send a message. They will help. Location: you ll find LTL in a supernice student district, easy to reach by couple of subwaylines, many restaurants, clubs, bars, shops School/Classrooms: As LTL does not do huge classes, you have rooms for max 8 people, with a lot of light, all with aircon)heating. Also after classes you can study in the front area or have a nice chat (or learning) on the outside terrace. Your morning only works with coffee? no problem, coffeemachine provided. Iced Coffee? ice cubes provided. as well as tea, water and so on. course: after finding out your level you enter a course of a few people only. in a very personal and easy going atmosphere. even though focused on learning, there s always time for some chatting and intercultural exchange. crowd: international mix, all ages, openminded, mixing well. me near 50, was a bit afraid it might be difficult going to school/course with genz/alpha. Not at all. Thanks to openminded and inclusive atmosphere. and to: Teacher: We had Kyle as super skilled teacher. He managed a very mixed group of 4, different age and nationality, different backgrounds in a perfect way. In a personal approach he encouraged, motivated and gave guidance. Starting from absolutely ZERO within 4 weeks i feel safe to speak. Of course more practice in writing reading and vocabulary needed. But the base is there to proceed on your own. 감사합니다, Kyle씨. And all this in a not pushy but very relaxed way! After school avtivities: LTL team organizes a lot of team activities. exploring nearby restaurants, art and craft courses, escaoe rooms, clumbing, pool excursions, korean calligraphy course..and many more. And LTL is not asking additiona fees. Prices: I did a research before, and seeing what others offer, LTL is best value for money. perfect service, good facilities, small classed, superskilled teacher/teaching method, extra progams, and supersweet team. I ll definitely come back and go on with course.

LTL Language School responded to this reviewJuly 06, 2026

Zero to feeling safe to speak Korean in 4 weeks - and with iced coffee on tap throughout!? Amazing!! We are thrilled Kyle and the whole Seoul team made such an impression and we will make sure he sees your kind words. Thanks so much for taking the time to cover every corner of the experience. Keep up the great work studying Korean and we cannot wait to welcome you back! LTL Team

I think that this program is an accessible way for students to venture outside of their comfort zone in both their taste pallet and social interactions. In this program you will learn to make friends with people you might not encounter on a day to day basis.

Program is well structured and the pre orientation is super helpful, specially because going to a new country can feel overwhelming so the guide made it easier. The staff is very attentive to our needs and they host events and day trips to help us be involved in our new city

I am super grateful for the support from both institutions in making the process as smooth as possible from departure to arrival and departing again. USACs preparation was surely a gift, Kookmin’s integration and support was helpful, and staff from both sides helped as much as they could!

I enjoyed my study abroad program! I felt my time there allowed me to integrate into the culture to the point that I truly saw the local culture rather than what people see as a tourist. It showed me that I can adapt quickly to assimilate the customs of the community while also still retaining my independence and sense of self. Coming back to the U.S., I came back with a better understanding of my personal identity and how different practices around the world are similar and different to where I live. This program helped me see ways I can incorporate different cultural perspectives in my career advancement and knowledge. I highly recommend this program to people that want to challenge themselves!

I honestly think studying abroad at Korea University was one of the best opportunities I have experienced! I was nervous before going, but I am so happy I went and got out of my comfort zone, which allowed me to become more independent. While in Seoul, I made amazing friends (who I still keep in touch with) and had tons of fun everyday both inside and outside of school. There was just so much to explore and I was never bored! I would totally go back again if I had the chance because it is such a great memory of mine.

As someone who had never been to Asia to start with. Studying and living in Seoul for a semester was a life changing experience. Meeting other international students from all over the world while also making new friends with the locals. The city of Seoul offers a wide variety of cultural activities, food, nightlife, and many more things to do for entertainment. I came back from my study abroad and still recommend it to my friends and fellow classmates. USAC also offered amazing guidance along the whole process of applying to arrival and even ongoing support while there. Great program and highly recommend to others.

Hey Korean Language Learners! I originally spent 3 weeks at LTL Shanghai learning Mandarin, and had such a good experience that I decided to return to LTL, but this time in Seoul to improve my Korean. LTL Shanghai included not only classes, but a fun community of fellow students, as well as some fun activities in the evening organized by the school. This is more or less also what I expected when I signed up for another 3 week stay at LTL Seoul, but my actual experience so far has vastly exceeded my expectations. As I’ve only had classes with one teacher, I can only speak to my experience with 다영 선생님, who makes class fun and full of laughter, but also ensures that she both challenges and supports us students when it comes to both comprehension and oral expression. Class often passes by very quickly, as there’s been a high emphasis on speaking, as opposed to the teacher simply lecturing us about the language for 4 hours. Speaking from my experience both in Shanghai and Seoul, your fellow students also tend to be very motivated, as they’re spending their time and hard earned money to make as much progress as possible in the limited time they have at school. While the academic portion so far has been very enjoyable and effective (in 2 short weeks I’ve already seen visible progress on my goal to read Korean at a quicker, more natural pace and increase my practical vocabulary), where LTL Seoul shines the brightest is the staff, which I feel are the heart and soul of the academy. Hailee, Manuel, Sebastian, and Violet have done, and continue to do, such an amazing job welcoming us and fostering an incredible experience for all the students. Before even arriving in Seoul, Violet would respond to various questions I had about the academic program, learning materials, and even helped to sort out accommodations (which I don’t think is even part of her responsibilities). Once I arrived in Seoul, Manuel was in constant contact with me, making sure that I knew how to get to my accommodation without getting lost, and also ensured that everything at the accommodation was prepared properly. Shortly after settling into my 고시원 (a kind of low rent, single occupancy room), Violet and Hailee took myself and other students out for a picnic on the Han River. I had been in Seoul not even 3 hours and I was already getting a nice local experience with fellow students that I probably would never have considered doing on my own. Hailee not only helped to organize events and accompany students to them while the school was looking for a new Culture Specialist. And finally, when Sebastian (the new Culture Specialist) arrived, he hit the ground running with organizing a karaoke event, getting to know the students, and planning further events according to the interests of the students. I went to LTL Seoul expecting to have a nice time while improving my Korean a bit, but I never really thought I would seriously consider returning anytime soon. Now I’m looking at my schedule and trying to figure out if another trip this year is possible, or if I’ll have to wait until next year. In either case, I look forward to returning to LTL Seoul very soon!

LTL Language School responded to this reviewMarch 27, 2026

Clyde, we're so happy you had a blast in both Shanghai and now Seoul! We can't wait to have you back and we're so happy to read your wonderful story learning languages with us :) Keep up the great work back hoe and we'll be ready and waiting for your return!! LTL Team

I would likely recommend CIEE study abroad to a friend because all the staff in the program were very helpful and made it easy to transition to a different country's environment. I was also able to explore all the places that I wanted to while taking classes and doing an internship, which was amazing!

I enjoyed every part of studying abroad in Seoul. AIFS made this experience special by having various group activities related to Korean culture. Thanks to the AIFS staff! I will always remember this time.

I am SO happy that I got the chance to study abroad at Korea University! I was able to be immersed in a new culture and I got to experience a ton of fun things. I also made some good friends there which made my experience even better. I definitely became more independent through this program. Hopefully, I can go back to Seoul soon because I miss it a lot!