My Exchange at Korea University
I have always been interested in an exchange experience. I love New Zealand, but other than to grow up and to retire, it offers little excitement to me in terms of environment, urban life, food, and entertainment. South Korea appealed to me as somewhere that fits all of these parameters, so on the 27th of February, I flew alone on a lethargic 12-hour flight from Auckland to Seoul.
When I arrived in late February, I was freezing, It must have been about 5 degrees celsius, I took a taxi on the way to my long-term AirBNB in Dongmyo, Seoul on an awkward taxi ride that I hope to forget. I was excited, and nervous to finally see a city I heard so much about, and on first impressions, I wasn’t disappointed.
Bright lights, wide roads, tall buildings and traffic galore, it was a metropolitan paradise (or hell, depending on your perspective). Seoul central, cleanly cut through by the Han River, was right outside the window, as I made my way to the quiet and retro neighbourhood of Dongmyo.
While I applied for university accommodation at Korea University, I was assigned to a two-person dormitory room, and that was not how I felt I could comfortably live as someone who values privacy highly. As such, I resorted to cheaper AirBNB options and was lucky enough to find some in the Sindang/Dongmyo/Sinseoldong area that were a short subway ride from the city and the university.
Due to being in Thailand for the PMSA internship, I missed the chance to go to orientation, and got straight into classes on Thursday the 2nd of March, and it was just business as usual. I have to say, and I mean no offence, that Korea University campus is truly gorgeous, especially compared to UoA and any campus I have seen in New Zealand. Stone buildings in a somewhat medieval style line the campus grounds, which invites a regal, yet cold atmosphere.
The courses at Korea University were hectic. The course load was high and extensive, requiring a considerable amount of study with an overemphasis on group work. However, in contrast, the tests and exams were relatively simple, consisting of short answer and multiple-choice questions.
A challenge that I did face was the lack of student support. There was a relative lack of student support at Korea University, so we found it difficult to approach lecturers and the global services centre for help. Also when it came to events and assignments there was a lack of organisation, and it felt like exchange students were left out a bit.
Honestly Korea took some getting used to. Unless you look Korean, you will almost always be treated with reservation as a foreigner, and racism is unfortunately a present reality due to the historically conservative and culturally homogenous orientation of the country. However, this is not common, and it will be rare to encounter.
Korea is a country, where you can meet friends, go out, have fun and eat without breaking the bank. It has a rich cultural history dating back millenia and a vast modern soft power. The food. The food. It was such a highlight that it cannot be overstated. I could actually afford to eat!!! And eat WELL! From traditional Korean food to burgers, fusion and desserts, Seoul offered a foodie’s dream, and I definitely can’t wait to go back.
Another bonus (which presented itself as a curse) was the sheer amount of stairs in the country. Every subway station, university, hospital, whatever, there were hills and stairs. Honestly this was both brilliant and horrific, being a curse to my legs but a blessing to my waistline.
The main highlight of my experience was a trip I took to the seaside city of Gangneung, in Gangwon Province. A seaside town that’s full of stunning museums, cafes, restaurants, and night food markets. That’s without even mentioning the beautiful beaches. If you get a chance to go, I highly recommend the Ice-Cream Hotteok.
If I had any advice to give to those thinking about exchange, it would be to just do it. Getting outside of your bubble gives you a lot of opportunity to grow academically, professionally, and most importantly, as a person. I cannot say I am the same guy who left Auckland 5 months ago, and I’m grateful for the growth, experience, friendships and challenges the exchange program offered me,
Q&A
What were some of the highlights of the academic experience at your host university?
I think the different cultural viewpoints in a variety of business, political, and social science classes were eye-opening. It was nice to approach concepts from a different, less-westernised perspective, which allowed for a new angle through which to assess problems and ideas.
Would you recommend any particular activity/activities unique to your host country or university?
During the spring semester, there are university festivals that run throughout the country. I highly recommend attending Ipselenti (Korea University’s Festival) and seeing a range of famous and old-school Korean artists. I also would suggest checking out other university festivals for different artists.
What are your top 3 tips for future students attending your host university or going on exchange to your host country?
1. It’s gonna be awkward so try your best. At first, especially if you can’t speak Korean, you might find a wall between International and Korean students. Through clubs and other programs, it is possible to meet friends from a range of backgrounds, so keep trying.
2. Spitting. The smoking rate in Korea is exceptionally high, so there are always teenagers adults and members of the elderly spitting in the street. Be careful where you step.
3. Don’t trust Tiktok. There are many videos on Tiktok recommending cafes and restaurants. Most of these recommendations suck, so instead look for recommendations on Naver, Instagram and from friends. Use the proper search terms and hashtags in Korean and you’ll find almost anything you could want.
How much did you budget for your exchange? Was this enough? Were there any lessons learned that would help future students budget for their own exchange?
The cost of living is cheap compared to New Zealand, and as I did not stay in the dormitory a majority of my budget was allocated to renting. I highly recommend thinking about getting a Travel Card if you are unable to get a Korean Bank account (Korea University did not allow exchange students to get one in Spring 2023, leading to a range of problems due to a somewhat controversial and discriminatory policy). Foreign cards often do not work at a majority of restaurants, bars and stores even in an “international” city such as Seoul. As such it is important to remember to find an ATM. I discovered that 7 ELEVEN often has ATMs that accept foreign cards, or global ATMs can be found on campus or in subway stations.
What are your most significant takeaways from your experience abroad?
I think the most important thing I learned was how big the world truly is. Coming to Auckland was change enough from Palmy, but then to Seoul, its so easy to get lost amongst the people. Taking time to socialise, and getting out if my comfort zone was necessarily to stay mentally healthy. Its important to not get to atttached to a friendship that doesn’t work out, but to be friendly to those that you meet and see what works out. Your exchange is too short for stress and drama.
Do you want to share anything about travels you did outside your host city/country?
The price of a hotel and flight to Japan from Seoul is less than the price of a plane ticket from Auckland to Narita, so if you are able to, I would recommend travelling to Japan during the holiday season. When exams end around June, the weather in Japan and Korea is swelteringly humid, so I recommend travelling earlier in the semester to neighbouring countries such as Japan and Taiwan.
Tags: 2023, Marketing/Management, Psychology, Report