Hello! My name is Koko, I am a third year philosophy student and I spent a year studying at Seoul National University in South Korea. Whilst SNU had been my first choice for study abroad, I was nonetheless shocked and anxious at having been accepted onto exchange. The process of enrolling into university, applying for my visa and figuring out accomodation felt overwhelming at times, but the feeling of finally arriving in Seoul made all the anticipation and anxieties of preparation worth it. It’s been a month now since I left South Korea, and I am still feeling so grateful for the experience, I cannot recommend it enough. I expected settling into the city to be a far more difficult experience than it was. I had never been to East Asia before, and with minimal understanding of the Korean language I thought that feeling at home there would be near impossible. I settled in faster than I had expected, and I found that many others who I met exchange had a similar experience. This is not to say that the experience was not new or exciting; having only lived in suburban London and Southampton, the move to a capital city was a much needed change, and Seoul was the ideal location.
Having spent a year there, I have found that Seoul is a really great city for students. Even after settling in, I very rarely spent a weekend indoors because of the amount of free or affordable activities in the city. My highlights in Seoul were the art galleries, museums, beautiful historic sites, bike rides along the Han river, hikes to Bukhansan, Naksan and Gwanaksan, and the colourful and innovative shopping streets (usually I hate hiking, but I’d definitely recommend doing it in Seoul). What I found different from London was the heightened sense of neighbourhood identities which kept exploration around the city new and exciting. From older areas like Euljiro, with streetside Korean BBQ restaurants, to newly trending neighbourhoods like Haebangchon and Mullae, I think that Seoul has so much to offer, all of which is enhanced by the affordable and efficient public transport and safety of the city. My personal recommendation is to walk along Cheongyecheon stream to Jongmyo Shrine, and explore Ikseondong and Seosulla-gil. As I write this, I find mysef wishing to visit again, as there’s still so much I would like to do there.
Seoul National University is located on Gwanak mountain in the south of the city. The buildings themselves of the university are not as historic or beautiful as the campuses of Korea or Yonsei universities, but the extensive and sprawling campus is nonetheless beautiful, especially during the blossom season in the spring time. I met some of my best friends through the buddy programme at SNU, and oftentimes we would hang out near Seoul National University Station, an area with really really good food and karaoke – even if you hate to sing, karaoke is a must-do when in Korea. An anxiety I had before Seoul was being able to find people I got along with. It turned out that exchange brought together many likeminded people who were equally as excited to meet others, explore and learn. It was also a huge help that I had friends from Southampton at other universities in Seoul.
As it is a highly competitive university, the libraries at SNU were very very quiet and often quite full, so I mostly studied at the cafes near SNU station. Many cafes in Seoul are centred around work and study, so unlike some of Portswood’s cafes, it is normal to stay for extended periods of time, and many of them are open very late. Despite my accomodation being a very small room, it wasn’t an issue because of the availability of third spaces. Academically, some of what was expected of me at SNU was more challenging, particularly the strict attendance policy. Whilst I did not appreciate having to attend EVERY class, I think it has taught me some discipline and made me feel more prepared for my final year at Southampton.
Another reason why I think Seoul is perfect for a year abroad is because of the opportunity to travel, as I think that one of the aims that people taking a year abroad might have is to see new places. Being based in Seoul, I was able to travel around South Korea, visiting Sokcho, Suwon, Gyeongju, Busan and Tongyeong. I also had the opportunity to visit Nagano and Tokyo in Japan and Shanghai, China. Being able to travel during my year abroad has forced me into a new level of independence, and the sense of responsibility and freedom gained has been invaluable.
To anyone considering doing a year abroad in Seoul or anywhere else, I would say that the opportunity to do this in university is the perfect chance to get out of your comfort zone. My experience has been overwhelmingly positive, and any discomfort or anxieties in the preparation or during have been worth it. Best of luck!