Alice's Exchange to Konkuk University | South Korea
I chose to study at Konkuk University because-
- Partner university of Murdoch
- Located in central Seoul
- Well-ranked
- Friendly staff who communicated with me throughout the application process
- Large selection of student clubs
- International Student Volunteers to help me settle into my exchange
My time studying abroad-
I really enjoyed my exchange university, due to its location, friendly teaching staff and exciting student life. I undertook five classes at Konkuk university – American Foreign Policy, Globalization and Regional Development, Korean Diplomacy, Theory of Media Production and Korean Elementary. The courses seemed relatively easy compared to my studies back at home. I think this is, in part, due to the fact that many Koreans take these courses as well – because they are studying the units in a second language professors would take that added difficulty into account. I had a good experience with my teachers at Konkuk. They were attentive, friendly and taught with clear instruction.
The teaching style/ classroom set-up varied quite significantly from Australia. There was not a lecture/ workshop split but rather a high-school style classroom where a professor would teach up to sixty students in a large room. Attendance was marked and you could only be absent or late three times before it started to significantly affect grades. That being said, teachers were usually a lot more lenient with exchange students on this front.
The largest downside to my course at Konkuk was the Korean course. There were only two levels to choose from – absolute beginner and intermediate (which was 4 grades higher). Therefore, I spent a large majority of the semester going over language I had already learnt. Further, the number of hours of this class were only 2 hours per week, which is not nearly sufficient for language learning.
My time in Seoul-
I absolutely loved living in Seoul! It is an exciting, vibrant city with mouth-watering exotic foods, stunning mountains and shops that never close. It is a city where it is impossible to be bored. Favourite activities in Seoul included karaoke, game arcades, going to Korean barbecue (pork and beef) and hiking the beautiful mountains that were strewn across the cityscape (Gwanaksan, Bukhansan, Namsan).
Public transport is fantastic in Seoul. Upon arrival you can purchase a T-Money card (a transit-card) that will allow you to use the subway and bus with ease. The subway in particular is a great mode of transport; comfortable, air-conditioned (or heated, depending on the season) and connected to all areas of Seoul. Taxi's in Seoul provide very reasonable fares and are a nice alternative to public transport when needed (i.e. after midnight or if you are carrying a lot of luggage).
Locals in Korea are very polite, and at times, a bit hard to get to know because they can be a little shy! Though with friendly encouragement and maybe a little Soju you may just become fast friends.
The best parts of my Exchange experience-
It's hard to determine the exact best parts of my exchange program. But I can assuredly say that the whole experience has changed me for the better. I've been challenged by language and cultural barriers, being truly 'alone' in the sense of having no family and friends in the city, living in a city so alien from my hometown of Perth. I've made amazing friendships, with locals and other foreigners, which I dearly treasure. I've learnt a bit of Korean and Hangul to better connect with the people here. I've hiked huge mountains, experienced biting cold and blistering heat. I've tried food I never thought I would try (Yukhoe comes to mind).
But if I had to distill a few concrete things that were my favourite park of Exchange – it would be the magnificent Korean landscape (mountains, cherry blossoms in the spring, golden leaves in the Fall), trying exciting and varying foods like samgyeopsal, jjimdak, dakgalbi and more, and experiencing a different way of life.
Some challenges I faced-
Some Korean people may seem a bit reserved or cold at first – but usually they are just shy, particularly if they are speaking in English! Don't be disheartened if it takes a little bit of time for them to warm up to you. Also expect a few stares – some Koreans may be curious to see a foreigner, especially if you are tall.
Seoul is much more populated than my city back home. So it took a while to adjust to the sheer amount of people there and the things that go along with it – hectic rushhours, crowded footpaths and being bumped and jostled when there wasn't much space or people were trying to squeeze past you. I just took deep breathes when this happened and remembered people weren't trying to be rude when they pushed past. There are just difference boundaries of personal space in tightly packed cities like Seoul.
Some information about accommodation-
Staying in the dormitories provided on campus was extremely convenient and I would recommend it to any student's considering exchange in Korea. The few students that did choose to seek accommodation elsewhere felt a little disconnected from the rest of us. The dorms were clean, comfortable and quite spacious (especially for Korea!). I am currently living in share house for the duration of my internship.
That being said there are a few downsides to dorm life in Korea – no kitchen or shared space, gender segregated dorms and strict security are the top three for me. Sharing a room with somebody else also took a little bit of adjustment.
How I funded my Exchange experience-
I received a Scholarship from the government under the New Colombo Plan and also used an OS Help Loan.
A little about my Internship abroad-
I undertook a six-month internship at the GGGI following my exchange semester. The organization is an international in nature, and focuses on helping developing countries grow in environmentally sustainable ways. My role includes conducting research on member countries development priorities, presenting analytical data and helping run the fledging 'Greenpreneurs' program designed to support young people develop sustainable ideas that would positively impact their local communities. I had the honour to meet President-Chair of GGGI Mr. Ban Ki-moon during my internship. This experience has been invaluable for my learning of what it's like to work in a large international organization and has deepened my knowledge of green growth.
Places I traveled to while abroad-
I tried to explore Korea as much as possible. I went to Jeju Island, Daegu, Sokcho, Nami Island, Songdo and Incheon. Jeju island is a gorgeous little island off the coast of Korea, where you can see remnants of a dormant volcano, visit beautiful waterfalls and try the famous black pig pork belly. Sokcho is known for its extremely picturesque mountain, which took about a four-hour hike. I did a Templestay in Incheon for several days, which was a nice reset after a hectic exam period and the stress of moving houses. Nami Island is an absolutely stunning place to visit in Autumn, with leaves turning all shades or gold, red and copper.
My advice to you-
- Pack appropriately for the weather and cultural standard of dress
- Do your best to learn the basics of the local language
- Remember that ups and downs are a part of life, and there will be difficult parts of your exchange alongside all the fun and excitement
- Eat lots of local food!
- Alice studied abroad at Konkuk University in South Korea in Semester 1, 2018. She is currently completing a Bachelor of Law and Arts (International Relations) at Murdoch University.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Murdoch University Study Abroad & Exchange - Outbound
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
CONTACT US!
EMAIL: studyabroad@murdoch.edu.au
PHONE: +61 8 93607836
VISIT: Murdoch University, Student Centre, 90 South Street, Murdoch, WA, 6150
FIND US!
FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/murdochoutbound
INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/murdochoutbound
