Korea: Seoul - Korean and East Asian Studies, Yonsei University

During fall 2023 to currently spring 2024, I studied abroad in Seoul, South Korea. It was one of the best decisions I ever made in terms of self-growth. Coming from a small town with little cultural diversity, Seoul helped me to broaden my perspective and teach me more about being independent. I learned to navigate cost differences, transportation, cultural and linguistical differences, as well as tackling challenging coursework at Yonsei University. Learning the language and meeting new people led me to take more opportunities to expand on my hobbies and interests. I joined multiple clubs at Yonsei and took group trips to places like Ansan Mountain and Namsan Tower in Seoul and other cities such as Daegu and Jeonju. Before coming to Korea, I was intimidated by being a student living alone in a foreign country, however, my university and program helped me to adjust and feel welcome. From my experience, not only did my language acquisition improve as well as my communication and social skills, but I also learned more about being open-minded and compassionate to everyone I meet. I am very grateful to have had a year in. South Korea to fully immerse myself in the culture and environment and I plan to use these skills as I further my education back in the United States.

This was my first time traveling internationally. I've always wanted to study abroad in Korea and go to a Korean school to challenge myself in their studious ways. I took a Korean Language Beginner's course which was challenging at first, but now that I see Korean words I catch myself being able to read it which is very exciting for me. I think one thing I found challenging was mainly housing. Where I lived during my study abroad for Winterim they had construction going on which limited spots for students and many had to rent out airbnb's. I think that if they were to provide enough housing it would make my experience even better, but overall I had the best time in Korea. Right under my dorm has a 24/7 convenient store which was really beneficial to me because they had laundry detergent, toiletries, and many foods/snacks to choose from! Yonsei is also near surrounding cities that are very popular such as Hongdae and Myeongdong which made it easy to get to and have fun!

Being in a completely different country with a language barrie can be nerve wracking and scary. But USAC did an amazing job with given information before my study abroad such as what to do in the country you are going, what is appropriate etc. South Korea was life changing and it wasn’t only my dream to be there but to study there especially at the #2 prestigious university in Korea, Yonsei. I was able to make so many friends from all across the world, learn about a new culture, learn a new language, be independent, being able to experience a new university setting and culture academically and make great me memories with great people. I will never forget my summer abroad in Seoul South Korea with USAC.

I wish I could go back and relive my summer in Seoul. It was honestly one of the best summers of my life. I enjoyed both of the courses I took and Yonsei's campus is beautiful. I had so much fun being able to explore Seoul, and one of my favorite parts of this program was that there were no classes on Friday, which gave us an extra to relax or go on adventures in the city. I made so many wonderful friends and created so many memories. The summer was over way to quickly, but I'm so glad I pushed myself out of my comfort zone both to go on this program but also throughout it, as I know I grew a lot.

I wish I could go back and relive my summer in Seoul. It was honestly one of the best summers of my life. I enjoyed both of the courses I took and Yonsei's campus is beautiful. I had so much fun being able to explore Seoul, and one of my favorite parts of this program was that there were no classes on Friday, which gave us an extra to relax or go on adventures in the city. I made so many wonderful friends and created so many memories. The summer was over way to quickly, but I'm so glad I pushed myself out of my comfort zone both to go on this program but also throughout it, as I know I grew a lot.

I wish I could go back and relive my summer in Seoul. It was honestly one of the best summers of my life. I enjoyed both of the courses I took and Yonsei's campus is beautiful. I had so much fun being able to explore Seoul, and one of my favorite parts of this program was that there were no classes on Friday, which gave us an extra to relax or go on adventures in the city. I made so many wonderful friends and created so many memories. The summer was over way to quickly, but I'm so glad I pushed myself out of my comfort zone both to go on this program but also throughout it, as I know I grew a lot.

My study abroad experience in Korea was absolutely incredible. It was nothing short of amazing and it makes me desperate to go back at the mere thought. There are so many things to do as a young student in the city of Seoul as it truly does cater to you. College districts are known for their cheap prices on food and clothes. Also, transportation makes it extremely convenient to go near and far with most buses arriving every 15 minutes! The nightlife is so much fun and while public transportation does stop temporarily at 12am, there are so many places open 24/7 for you to hang out. Whether you decide to take this opportunity alone or with friends, you won't regret a single moment!

Studying at Yonsei was an amazing experience! Thanks to USAC, it was super easy to do so since they took care of the most difficult parts (guides for visas, insurance, etc)! And through the program, I was also able to connect with many other students before departure, which made making friends even easier! I had so much fun during my semester, I decided to extend my time to the full year! USAC made this process super easy and checked in frequently about visa changes and more. Yonsei is also an amazing school! The facilities are top notch, the location is fantastic, and the intensive korean program taught me so much! If you want to study in Seoul, USAC and Yonsei are 100% the way to go!