South Korea is a fantastic destination for anyone seeking to study abroad in Asia. Revered for its popular culture including K-pop and K-dramas, it’s also home to a rich history, delicious cuisine, and jaw-dropping landscapes. With AIFS Abroad, you can study abroad in Seoul, earn academic credit at a respected university, and grow your international network, all while you soak up the world-famous Korean culture. Want to learn more about what it’s really like to study abroad in South Korea?
Hear from two college students who did a study abroad program in South Korea with AIFS Abroad!
McKailyn: Summer in Seoul
McKailyn from Ball State University did a summer study abroad program in Seoul. She says she chose Seoul as her study abroad destination because of the following:
“I have always wanted to visit South Korea, and in the future, I hope to teach English there with the Fulbright scholarship and afterward stay and teach math as well. I would definitely recommend going to South Korea to anyone who can! It was amazing; I met so many people, ate delicious food, and the city was so beautiful.”
Hear McKailyn describe her weekly schedule, including her courses and AIFS Abroad trips and excursions:
“I had Beginner Korean from 10 am to 12:50 pm, and then I had Korean Society from 2 pm to 4:30 pm. Outside of those times, I was free to do whatever I wanted. I went around Seoul after I was done with my classes and hung out with friends. And then Fridays are when [AIFS Abroad] had scheduled the field trips, so the DMZ tour, Everland (which is an amusement park here), and the trip around Seoul. My weekends were free to do whatever I wanted.”
From sweet desserts to savory snacks, South Korea is famous for its delectable cuisine. Below, McKailyn offers her thoughts on the local food, and some advice for visiting the street markets:
“The food is so good and affordable! Definitely go to the convenience stores here, and if you go to a [street] market, make sure you have cash, most food vendors do not accept card.”
Below, McKailyn says why she thinks South Korea is such a great place to study abroad:
“The people are honestly so kind and welcoming. It also is really cheap to eat here, most days I would spend maybe $20 on food between two meals and drinks/snacks. Seoul is also so beautiful with all of the mountains and views that you’ll see just walking around on the streets. Public transportation is also very efficient, reliable, and cheap.”
Angelyna: Spring in Seoul
Meet Angelyna from California State University, Long Beach (CSULB), who spent a spring semester studying abroad at Sogang University in Seoul.
Concerned about a language barrier in South Korea? No worries—as Angelyna explains, it’s easy to get around in Seoul with just English:
“Prior to this trip, I didn’t [speak] Korean proficiently. I was a beginner. All I did was some Duolingo, but then I took Korean 101 as I was taking my other courses abroad. I would say it was a barrier at first. If you are externally East Asian appearing, they will assume that you are more or less Korean, so locals will always talk to me in Korean first. And then I would tell them, ‘I’m sorry, I’m studying, I’m trying my best.’ And then they would [use] English.
So I think especially with Seoul, [the language barrier] was very easy to navigate… everything always almost had an English side, and they were always very happy to translate or like look at my phone with my translating app. I never felt too afraid to talk to people.”
While South Korea may be across the world, when you study abroad with AIFS Abroad, you can always rely on our on-site staff, as Angelyna explains:
“I was so lucky to have the best Program Directors. I had my Program Directors, Alice and Anna, and they were the best because they were so down-to-earth, and it made talking to them really easy. So that made me feel more welcome to go to them with problems such as homesickness and any struggles I had. Also, they were so easy to talk to [about] plans and what to do.
They were always open to hanging out with us and guiding us wherever needed, and they just made Seoul feel so much more approachable, especially as someone who didn’t speak fluent Korean going [in]. I was a bit afraid and apprehensive trying new things, but they were so quick to meet with me and put me on all their favorite spots.”
Discover all South Korea has to offer—study abroad in Seoul with AIFS Abroad like these college students did!
AIFS Abroad offers a range of programs in South Korea, each tailored to meet specific academic, personal, and professional preferences. These study abroad programs in South Korea provide one-of-a-kind experiences that go beyond what a more traditional European program can offer. Wherever you study abroad, go with AIFS Abroad and take advantage of our valuable program inclusions (which really take the stress out of planning!), such as housing, trips and excursions, social and cultural activities, 24/7 emergency support, comprehensive insurance, and the support of our trusted on-site staff.
