[SFU OLC Experience] Survival Guide for Korea University

Program:

Study Abroad › Exchange

University

Korea University

Location:

Seoul

Korea

Experience Faculty

Arts + Social Sciences › Psychology

My exchange semester at Korea University was definitely a memorable one and if I was able to stay longer I would have. I highly recommend Korea University for students to study abroad.

Experience Details

Semester

Spring

Year

2023

Introduction + Preparation

My preparation for my exchange semester had its up and downs as there were some difficulties that I faced. I was recommended not to pack too heavily as I purchased more items than I arrived with during my semester in Seoul, but purchasing a charging adapter would be something I highly recommend. However, try to find one that isn’t too bulky. The transportation system is quite easy to understand, in my opinion, and is the cheapest option. I do not recommend getting a taxi as it would cost a lot more in comparison. This also emphasizes why I recommend not bringing a lot to Korea as it would be a hassle to carry a lot of luggage on the train. There are hardly any delays in the transportation system, including buses, in Seoul so getting around places is super convenient. The transportation system in South Korea uses a transportation card called T-Money Card, which can also be used at convenience stores. You can get one at any convenience store such as GS25, 7-11, or CU. However, for those that may have a preference, there are a lot of designs for these T-money cards so if that matters to you, don’t feel pressured to buy the first one you see. I would just go into any one of these stores and ask to see what kind of T-money cards they have.

Accommodation for me was a challenge as I did not want to stay in the university’s dormitory, due to personal preferences. I HIGHLY recommend looking for a place immediately 5 or 6 months before to find affordable accommodation on platforms such as Airbnb. I hesitated but did not realize that you can cancel your reservation if the cancellation is far in advance enough. However, if your priority is just looking for cheap accommodation to have save as much money as possible then I would recommend the dormitory.

Preparation Tips for Future Students

Another preparation tip would be to ensure that you fully understand what sort of documents you need for your student visa as I made the mistake of doing it too last minute.

Google maps do not work in South Korea so I suggest downloading these navigation apps and a taxi (similar to uber) app:

NaverMap
KakaoMap
KakaoT

This translation app also works really well for Korean translation:

Papago

Cherry blossom season at Seoul Forest

My 3-day weekend trip to Busan (which a lot of students did by going outside of Seoul during the weekends)

Our school festival where it featured many Korean artists, such as Jay park, CL, Boa, Yena, BIG Naughty, (G)I-DLE, PSY, and etc.

My KUBA Group with some of the exchange students and KUBA buddies during our Field Day

During my Experience

Orientation and First Weeks

At our orientation, there were presentations given about what we need to be cautious of and safety precautions. We received our student IDs, as well as a handbook that explained where to go for certain needs. One of the most important things is to make your ARC (Alien Registration Card) appointment as soon as possible as it is better to do it sooner than later. At orientation, you will potentially see your KUBA buddy there [KUBA is the club at Korea University that helps organize activities and welcomes the exchange students at KU]. Don’t be scared to reach out to them for any help or just to have a meal or drink with them. Course Registration at Korea University can also be very confusing and slightly stressful but try not to worry too much. Ask your KUBA buddy for clarification.

Day to Day

My Day to Day was quite active as I wanted to make the most of my semester at Korea University. I was mainly always out eating lunch and dinner more than cooking as it was cheaper and more convenient than me cooking. On the weekends I usually go out for a drink at a pub, sometimes for the whole weekend as it was the easiest to get to know people as well as meet people. A lot of my time during my semester was exploring different cafes as it was a good way to get a feel of what each neighbourhood in Seoul is like, as well as studying for my exams. I also took advantage of the 24/7 cafes in my neighbourhood. Sometimes when I need a break I would go to a PC bang (also known as an internet cafe) or a 노래방 (also known as a karaoke room). These are almost everywhere and you would be able to find one in any location.

Learning and Adaptation

The courses that I took were all very enjoyable. I took 1 Korean speaking class and 3 psychology courses that were taught in English and they were all fluent in English so there was no difficulty understanding the course materials. The class sizes varied and they all occurred twice a week for me. A lot of the courses often in South Korea do not hold classes on Fridays, except for a few exceptions. In my personal experience, a lot of exchange students regretted taking their Friday courses as they felt like it limited their social activities since the majority of the students treated the weekend as a 3-day weekend. Also keep in mind that at Korea University, you cannot be absent for more than ⅓ of your classes or that would result in a fail. Overall, I would not say that the courses at Korea University were in particular any different than the ones at SFU.

Reflection & Tips

Reflection

Overall my exchange semester at Korea University was a memorable one for sure. I loved every moment of it despite some ups and downs. I would highly recommend studying abroad in South Korea to anyone, but of course, it does not always fit everyone’s lifestyle as Seoul is a very social lifestyle. Another tip for students that are going to Korea for exchange is to have a good understanding of what your expectations are and what you would like to do there as I have discovered that there are many students there for different reasons (for example, studying, building connections, cafes, or just nightlife). Once you have an idea of what you would like to do there, you would be less likely to be swayed by other exchange students to do other things. Another thing is to not be afraid to approach the Korean students there at Korea University as the students there would have needed to pass an English test so they do understand a decent amount of English.

Advice for Future Students

I would also like to add another tip for females (as I would have appreciated this) the majority of the clothing that women wear in South Korea does not include low-cut tops. Crop tops, shorts, and skirts are fine but low-cut tops seem to be less common. Also if you are also going to South Korea during the spring semester, please note that it is still very cold there so do bring a few sweaters and a warm jacket.

Lastly, I would also like to add that If I had more credits to finish, I would have applied for two semesters at Korea University as I enjoyed it that much. I made many amazing memories and friends there (exchange students and Korean students). Feel free to contact me through my Instagram for more information about anything :).

Tags:

International