When I returned home from my study abroad in Korea, I was constantly asked if I would recommend it. The answer: yes, 1000% yes. My trip was not conventional, with the summer program being only six weeks instead of the typical three months. However, with the small window of opportunity, I felt compelled to do everything I could. And I did.
Going to Korea, I opted to say yes to everything. Go clubbing the same night as arriving in Seoul? Yes. Go hiking while on Jeju Island despite hating outdoor activities? Yes. Spending more money than I should have? Why not? Money is temporary, memories last forever. Head out right after class? Duh.
My school schedule gave me the flexibility to say yes to everything. I made sure to take the earliest classes, so by 1 pm I was practically free. My professors, who were from the United States, were understanding of our situation and knew we wanted to make the most out of our summer. They were flexible and the workload was extremely light considering the tight time frame. We also had Friday off, giving us a three-day weekend to do everything and go anywhere.
I want to share memorable moments of my trip, in hopes of encouraging more people to study abroad. If you’re planning to go to Korea, I hope you take my experiences to heart on your trip.
Witnessing a New Culture
I have been to Japan before, but I was unable to immerse myself in the culture and history in the way I wanted. I made sure not to make the same mistake in Korea. Korea made it easy, with their government encouraging foreigner’s participation in Korean culture. One memorable experience was going to Gyeongbokgung Palace, where entry was free if you were dressed in traditional attire. So, my friend and I rented some hanboks and we explored the last Joseon palace while taking some amazing photos.
When talking about culture, I don’t want to just dwell on traditions but rather the everyday life culture unlike California’s. For one, I enjoyed the public transportation. I know, what a shocking statement. But the Naver App made it easy to navigate bus routes and the taxis were extremely cheap. The accessibility made it easier to travel to places. Sometimes I do miss the spontaneous “let’s head out to eat” and there would be a bus ready for us.
Iconic Locations
I went to Korea about four days before my summer program began, hoping to explore Jeju Island. South to Korea, this island is commonly referred to as the “Hawaii of Korea.” While it was breathtaking, I’m not sure I would visit again. Many of the attractions were outdoor based. I was not built for the long stretch of the underground lava tunnel or the hike up Sunset Peak. But I don’t regret the experience.
In Seoul, I went to two iconic locations: the DMZ and Namsan Tower. As a history major, the DMZ was an exciting experience and we got to see the border. Even though we learned about it, being in the midst of a historical site makes it very much real. And here, I truly learned the significance of the Korean War, both its victories and atrocities, to South Koreans. I got to see the North Korean flag through a telescope and we even went down into one of the infantry tunnels North Korea dug into South Korea. Regarding Namsan Tower, I had a similar experience as Jeju. I’m glad I was able to go and I’m glad I was able to do the love lock with my best friend, but there was nothing too special. You had to pay extra to get to the top of the tower, so we opted to stay at the bottom.
Our trip to Busan was the most memorable. We went on a train Thursday night and stayed until Sunday afternoon, as this was the weekend before finals and we wanted to do some studying. It was memorable for two reasons. The first was that we did so many things in one weekend. We went to Gamcheon Cultural Village, we went to the Haedong Yonggungsa Temple by the sea, we went to two beaches, and went to Spa Land (twice!) to relax, and went on an air cruise over the ocean. The second thing that made it so memorable was the heat. Especially since Busan is a coastal city, the heat and humidity were unbearable at times. Many of the attractions I mentioned above did not have much shade. If I could change anything about this mini-trip, it would be to go on a different weekend.
For K-pop Lovers
In recent years I’ve delved deep into the K-pop world so visiting South Korea elated my fangirl heart. While the K-pop stores there, such as WithMuu or Ktown4U, are not too different from the ones here, there is one distinct factor that differentiates them from the US: pop-ups. I had the privilege of being in Korea during Zerobaseone’s debut and was able to go to Ktown4U’s pop-up. And for anyone planning to go to one of these, prepare to wait. Because I had to wait eight hours before my friend and I were allowed in. And the people at these pop-ups are no joke. Ktown4U was offering either an ice cream or a drink per album purchase. Some of these people had more than ten drinks.
But I would 100% do it again. The best part of these K-pop pop-ups is the lucky draws. Unlike anywhere else (online or in person), you are given a free photocard per album purchase. After you buy your albums, you go to something like a vending machine and get random cards. Suffice it to say, I was able to collect all nine members.
These K-pop stores aren’t the only things a K-pop lover can enjoy. There are also plenty of concerts, and they’re generally cheaper than in the US. I know that my university, Yonsei, has an annual concert in the Spring, inviting big groups in K-pop. From Le Sserafim to Ive, it is very common for K-pop groups to perform at universities in Seoul. While I missed this concert by a few months, I did have the pleasure of going to WaterBomb. This festival is similar to a rave, but they spray you with water.
The experiences I have listed here are but a snapshot of my time in Korea and I only hope I was able to convince you to study abroad. Not to be cliche, but this experience has truly changed me. If I wasn’t graduating this year, I would go again (just maybe somewhere else).