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

Yonsei was a great university and all my professors were amazing. However, I would find another program that has more activities included to help you immerse in the country. USAC had no excursions or on-site staff, but other programs, such as UCEAP and TEAN did and they were about the same price. USAC was very hands off and seems to be in it just for the money rather than actually caring about the students. It might have been better to apply directly to Yonsei. The country is extremely easy to navigate, and I had no problems living there even though I did not speak the language.

The program advisors were attentive to students’ needs and making sure students were well prepared for studying abroad ahead of the program. The program allowed students to find support throughout the duration of the program and having options to turn to in case of emergencies. I found the program immersive and was well prepared for my time abroad. The program allowed me to find various cultural aspects of South Korea I never would have experienced without this program. The beautiful country was able to be experienced.

I applied to the 6-week summer program at Yonsei in Seoul. I had so much fun and got to meet so many new people and have a lot of new experiences. As a young woman I was nervous about traveling alone in a foreign country but I felt completely safe both on and off campus. While there I got to see and experience a lot of things I would not have been able to in America including going to a K-pop concert and seeing several traditional Korean Palaces. Seoul is great as there are a lot of traditional cultural elements to see such as the Hangeul Museum and Hanoks but Seoul also has things to do for young people. While I personally like K-pop and went to see a bunch of stuff around that you don't have to be there is a lot of really awesome nightlife and shopping as well. I already knew some Korean which was a huge help but people who didn’t know any Korean also had no problem traveling around the city as lots of things were in both Korean and English or had pictures to help.

Studying at Yonsei University was an amazing experience. Sinchon is a lovely area with amazing food, shopping, etc. It's also right next to Hongdae, which is super popular. There are endless things to do in the area, so it's a perfect place to be. The classes were also great, it wasn't a super heavy workload but I still learned a lot. My Korean class was taught completely in Korean, which did take some adjusting, but now I actually prefer it over being taught in English. There are challenges that come along with studying abroad, but it's totally worth it in the end. The memories you make will stick with you forever. Overall, I highly recommend!

The experience I had in Seoul at Yonsei University was incredible. Walking the streets of Seoul with my new friends, going to cafes, clubs, and villages was beyond fun. I met friends I'll have for a long time, and will cherish the memories forever. Traveling around the country with friends taught me new things about myself, and created special bonds with people that can't be replicated. I discovered so many new foods, for example naengmyeon and kalguksu, and truly think I experienced what Korea had to offer an exchange student. And it offered a lot. If you are on the fence about studying abroad, don't even think about it and do it!

I was able to end my last semester of college in the most spectacular way, thanks to my USAC study abroad program in Seoul, South Korea. I attended Yonsei University, one of South Korea's most prestigious colleges. Before even landing a foot in Seoul, I was able to bond with fellow students as USAC opened opportunities to connect with our study abroad peers. While in Korea, I had constant and speedy communication with my USAC advisors, who helped to sort any travel or academic issues. Through USAC, I was able to learn about so many fascinating aspects of Korean culture ranging from food and cinema to philosophy and history. Seoul would have many fun places to go, including tourist attractions, parks, cafes, restaurants, nightlife, historical sites, etc. On the flip side, Korea is a very mountainous country and there are a lot of places to go hiking and enjoy nature in Seoul and around the country! My study abroad in Korea was filled with delicious meals, karaoke, and new adventures every single day. It was truly, the Seoul search of a lifetime.

Studying at Yonsei University through USAC was one of the best and most affordable options for me! Not only was the school beautiful, the campus life was amazing and I learned a lot about the culture and about myself during my time at Yonsei! I was there for a year and got to experience four seasons, two school festivals, form deep relationships, and vastly improve my korean language ability at Yonsei University! I can't wait to go back to South Korea. If you are considering studying abroad in Seoul, South Korea, there really is no better option than studying abroad at Yonsei through USAC!

USAC, Yonsei was the best choice I ever made in my life! I've always wanted to visit South Korea in my lifetime and I was lucky to be able to go through a study abroad program and live there for four months. The campus is beautiful! The University experience there was alot different from my home University, but I liked how involved students were in social and academic events.
The culture scene was very fun and exciting. So much music everywhere you go probably because of their ever-growing music industry but i love the buskers who perform at night. It's a nice way to relax for the nigth while still enjoying the culture. I was able to take some trips and see the beautiful places South Korea has to offer. The people are amazing as well! You will always feel at home because they treat everyone like family.
My favorite little restaurant is called 딸기 or Strawberry, and it is down the street from the student dorms. It's very popular with the students as well as people in the neighborhood and I think it's because a nice family owns it (2 generations) and the food is delicious for the affordable price!
More about food, there are so many affordable places to eat at in Sinchon(the district Yonsei is located in) and they fill you up!
I can go on and on about my experience, but I would like to say that it was a very eye-opening experience for me and probably the best trip I've ever taken in my life! Definitely recommend Seoul, South Korea (especially Yonsei 😁)!