Volunteer Programs in South Korea

It was a wonderful experience to discover the country and its people from a different perspective. The connections I made were very warm and welcoming, and the support on site was close to perfect. The learning went both ways: not only the children, but I myself learned as well. I picked up some Korean and, above all, gained rich insights into Korean culture through them. I sincerely hope to repeat this experience in the future. For the children, it would be beneficial if the program could run longer than one or two weeks, as they need time to build trust and truly settle in. The team in Korea was easy to reach at all times and well prepared to answer any questions. I always felt very well informed and supported—almost as if close friends had been waiting for me on site. Thank you very much for that; it truly could not have been better. The temple stay felt like a home away from home. Even though the rooms were small and simple, they were more than sufficient. The location was excellent. At times, however, I would have appreciated having a quiet space to retreat to beyond the sleeping area. As I had a single room, this was at least partially possible. For those staying longer, though, having a dedicated quiet space separate from the shared areas would be very beneficial.

I am motivated, responsible, and eager to learn from every experience. I am open to feedback and always ready to improve my skills. I value teamwork, communication, and adaptability, and I aim to contribute positively to any project or organization I join while continuing to grow both personally and professionally.

Volunteering was very enjoyable, interesting and varied. It gave us a good insight into the wonderful work the soup kitchen does. The Head Chef was truly inspirational. It also gave us the opportunity to meet and work with other volunteers from many different countries. The local team were fantastic and very supportive, kind , considerate and very friendly. We liked that at the soup kitchen we all shared the same food, this gave us the opportunity to try many different Korean dishes. The buffet meal we had on our orientation say was good fun. The Temple was clean, the beds were comfortable and we enjoyed the never-ending supply of tea. The staff were friendly and again it was good to meet people from all over the world. The location was good too. At the Temple we also enjoyed a handpan lesson.

Traveling half way around the world to volunteer effort, time and energy on marine conservation takes trust. GoEco delivered, far exceeding any preconceived expectations and hopes we had before arriving on Naifaru. The entire team provided thorough support, training and guidance so that we could participate, contribute and perform to our utmost potential. We left with a tremendous sense of achievement, accomplishment and countless unforgettable memories.

Hi guys here the feedback I sent to AOA:<br><br>Jule and Gércia are doing an outstanding job! The program was very well organized, and all questions were always addressed – whether directly related to the tasks or more general matters. I felt well supported at all times.<br><br>I especially want to highlight how valuable it is to have a local Mozambican staff member like Gércia on the team. She not only brings maritime knowledge but also shares important insights about local customs and culture – a huge asset!<br>When Jule was away for a few days with another group, Gércia took over the leadership of our group, smoothly managed any changes to the plan, and handled everything very professionally. You truly have a fantastic team, and that deserves to be appreciated!<br><br>Food & Meals<br>The food was consistently delicious – thank you, Brodie and the Tilak Lodge team!<br>However, after two weeks, I noticed that some meals repeated quite often. It would be great if AOA could give Brodie a bit more flexibility and resources to offer more variety in the menu. I'm sure with more freedom, Brodie could surprise us with even more creative and diverse meals!<br><br>Scuba Diving<br>The guides at Tofo Scuba were excellent – professional, experienced, and always supportive. Whether it was the Advanced Open Water course, ocean safaris, or fun dives, I always felt safe and in very good hands. They made every dive a great experience, and I appreciated their clear briefings, calm presence, and strong awareness of safety and the environment.<br><br>Suggestions for Improvement – Equipment<br>There is definitely room for improvement when it comes to technical equipment:<br>There are clearly not enough GoPros/underwater cameras for the volunteers.<br>The printer is currently unusable due to empty ink cartridges – and no replacements were available.<br>Coming from a technical/IT background myself, I was honestly surprised at how outdated and overused some of the devices are. One or two new laptops or computers would make a real difference and improve the workflow on site.<br><br>Final Words of Appreciation<br>I usually don’t give such detailed feedback – but Jule, Gércia, Brodie and the Tilak Lodge team, as well as Ross and the Tofo Scuba crew, all deserve a big compliment. Thank you for this valuable and enriching experience!

I was a little uncertain about booking a volunteer trip with an organization I didn't have personal experience with, but wow! I'm thrilled I took a chance on GoEco. Their staff were incredibly communicative, helpful and supportive throughout the process - they patiently answered all my questions, guided me to a location that suited me and made sure I had all information I needed to ensure a wonderful trip. The Giant Tortoise Breeding Center volunteer experience in the Galapagos Islands was more than I could ever have imagined... filled with ideal balance of hard work, interesting learning, plenty of free time for diving/snorkeling/relaxation, connection with the local community and endless opportunities for Spanish practice. I felt supported by both GoEco and the IOI program. I'm already looking forward to my next GoEco travel opportunity.

I volunteered for a month (from September 28th to October 25th, 2025). Every Monday, we would meet up in the lobby to plan our English lesson materials for the rest of the week. After preparing everything, we would have lunch together with the guide. We usually took our time for lunch because we had to be at the location around 3 p.m. Once we arrived at the location, we would introduce ourselves to the children and start the lesson. We had two-hour lessons, with a 10-minute break in between. We usually finished class at 5 p.m. Then the assigned guide would go back to our accommodation with us, making sure we didn't get lost. Every day, we went to different schools. We worked from Monday to Friday. We met in the lobby at 12pm, every day. Sometimes, the volunteering organization would propose some trips to the Korean countryside to see more of Korea, meet other people, and help people. I took part in two trips: one to harvest chili peppers for the farmers and one to harvest apples. I had so much fun and interacted with locals. Unforgettable memories. Local team was friendly and kind. I had so much fun with them. As for food, I couldn't be any happier. It was so good. Accommodation was okay. I was in a dorm if 6 person. It was sometimes challenging but bearable for a month.

I found the supervisors per Email and on site to be very friendly and helpful. Jin, in particular, assisted me greatly. The children were very sweet and open to learning. I also felt secure because we were told what and how to teach. Seoul is a great city, and I would definitely like to return. The accommodation was very clean and very well located. It was close to the train and only a few minutes' walk from Hongdae Center. And as I said, the team on site was very nice and helpful. Especially JIN! I would have liked it better if we had spent more time with the children. And if we had seen one class regularly, we could have built up a little rapport with the children. Or rather, the children would have felt more comfortable because they knew us.

I really enjoyed the service—teaching English to students and everything that came with it! I loved connecting with locals and learning about their culture. Huge shout out to Chang-Mo, Heeju, Yuri, Annabel, and Amy—they were amazing group leaders and made the whole experience even better!!!!!!!!

Rustic Pathways responded to this reviewAugust 13, 2025

Hi Ray! Thanks so much for your kind words about our program and your leaders. They're pretty great! And the trip wouldn't have been the same without you. Thanks so much for exploring Korea with us. See you next summer?

Initially, I was scared to go on this trip. Even once we got there I was still nervous. As soon as I met the group leaders and one of the students, I felt right at home. Everyone was so nice, and I genuinely had the best time ever. I loved being immersed in the Korean culture.

Rustic Pathways responded to this reviewAugust 13, 2025

Hey Victoria! Traveling abroad to a new country is always a little nerve-wracking, even for adults. But we're proud you took that huge step and decided to travel despite being a little scared! We're thrilled you had a great time. We bet now you feel like you can take on anything, right? We hope to see you again next summer on a new adventure!

The local connections the volunteer house provides for us is amazing. I can basically go to buy clothes, having surfing class, and getting a massage with discount from those connections. It feels like we’re embraced by the local community, and it feels absolutely wonderful!

The most memorable experience for me was to have a beautiful encounter with an enormous manta ray. It circled us for more than 20 minutes on our dive and it was absolutely incredible! But that was only one out of so many amazing, memorable experiences with animals as well as people!

I have to say swimming with the whale sharks was one of the most amazing things I’ve done in my entire life! Everyone in the boat with the same enthusiastic energy celebrating every time we would find a whale shark and jump with them, it was a trip I’ll remember forever!

This was my first conservation trip and now I'm hooked! Staff was great, work was rewarding. Made friends from everywhere! If you want to learn and make a difference, do this! I had never travelled by myself and now I want to do my next trip

Rustic Pathways responded to this reviewNovember 05, 2024

Emma! We're so proud of you for traveling alone, that's not easy, even for adults. But look at the rewards! You did amazing work, contributed to conservation efforts, and made new friends! We can't wait for you to join us again soon.

Teaching kids was real awesome! They were so excited to learn English from a native language speaker. A meaningful and impactful experience overall! I will definitely be doing it again, and would highly recommend this program.

Rustic Pathways responded to this reviewNovember 05, 2024

Hey Liam! We're so happy that you joined us in South Korea, and that you enjoyed working with children. We know it's such a treat for them to learn from a native speaker. Hopefully you join us on another trip soon!

Great time volunteering at the school! Staff and kids were so welcoming. Be ready to be flexible with schedules. Overall, the program is really good. If you love working with kids abroad, check this out!

Rustic Pathways responded to this reviewNovember 02, 2024

Hey Charlotte! We're so glad you were able to travel with us, and that you enjoyed your volunteering experience! We hope you travel with us again soon!

My most memorable experience was looking forward to feeding the beautiful elephants each day and seeing their excitement when we would arrive. In even those little interactions, you got to know a little more about the elephant’s personality each time.

Individual experiences are not what make a trip of this sorts memorable. It’s all the people you meet. From this trip, so many individuals of varying backgrounds have touched my heart and greatly impacted my life.

Working with the elephants was amazing hand and experience of a lifetime but it's not for the faint hearted it is hard work especially in the heat and humidity but so worthwhile. The Thai people are lovely and the staff that worked there are two it is a very well run organisation

These past 3 months in Korea have been a dream. I’ll be real the whole waiting through covid thing wasn’t easy, but actually landing in Korea was a literal dream come true. My interest in Korea kinda grew exponentially over the past few years after watching about every Korean drama I could set my eyes on (I know… basic) but I quickly felt like it was the place for me. My internship there confirmed this. I come from a fashion/design background and my host company basically couldn’t have been any more perfect, working alongside young Korean fashion designers was such good experience for me and my future. I learnt so much and took so much inspiration, that in itself I think is super valuable. Work aside, I probably don’t have to say how amazing Seoul is. I think I had a bit too much fun and a bit too much food (at least if I’m listening to my waistline). Also now I think back to it I’m super grateful Meiji arranged the accommodation for me, I just don't have the patience for that especially in a language I don’t speak. So basically if you haven't got it by now, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS. I literally can't thank Meiji enough lol I feel like it’s going to be real hard to match this experience.