Asia Lab

Working in Korea has been a lifelong dream, and I'm grateful to Asialab for making it a reality. The atmosphere here is incredible—despite our diverse backgrounds and languages, everyone is welcoming and supportive. Our differences only seem to strengthen our partnership as we collaborate seamlessly. The guidance from the staff is invaluable; their patience ensures we excel in our tasks. I'm optimistic that Asialab's continuous growth will not only benefit the company but also contribute to my personal development.

Interning at Asia Lab in Seoul did give me valuable exposure to Korean culture and I really enjoyed working with the other interns. My manager was supportive and the cultural experience was meaningful.

That said, I need to be transparent about what happened after the internship. I was promised a refund for my accommodation, but despite following up consistently for over a year, I have not received it. Each time I contacted them, I was told they were “in the process” or waiting on their finance team, yet nothing has materialized. While I truly appreciated the people and the cultural side of the program, the lack of professionalism in handling the refund has left me very disappointed.

They requested $2,400 USD deposit for accommodation, which they said they would refund at the end of my stay. But it's been around a year and a half and they still haven't paid it. I email and message every once in a while, but they make up excuses.

There were not many activities or Hallyu industry experiences. We were told to go to Seoul Con to manage an influencer, but we stood outside the hall because we couldn't go in. Then, we sat in other people’s seats for a bit before standing at the back just to watch for a bit longer. Things weren't very organised and they would mention many workshops and activities which never ended up happening. The examples on the website I wanted to do (e.g. staff or extra in a MV or drama production), they said they couldn't do. There were no monthly networking parties or 'invitations to premieres, award ceremonies, and concerts' as it said on the website. There were also no extra things (e.g. trips or travel support) with the accommodation and it is very different to the pictures (very small). They do not financially support travel for trips, even the activities they organise.

For the positives, which is hard to find, the staff and other interns were so friendly and helpful. I loved the multi-cultural aspect as there's people from all over the world. Lots of research of celebrities for the interview documentary, which probably didn't go ahead(?) It was a good experience to lead the Zoom meetings with influencers and acquire the only sponsor for the Unforgettable Gala for Asia Lab and other guests.Overall, I learnt to be careful and not trust these things.

I first joined Asia Lab on their trip to Jeonju in the middle of September, it was an unforgettable weekend trip! Although we were all nervous and no one knew each other we bonded really quickly at the bus terminal and as the weekend went on we developed our friendships. Our main objective of the weekend was to film promotional content which featured one of Asia Lab's talent, although we were working we still were able to indulge in the great tasting food of Jeonju and experience the traditional atmosphere Jeonju has to offer. Although, it rain throughout our trip my memories will always be off the professional working experience I received alongside such a global team!

I then joined Asia Lab at the Runway to Seoul event the following Saturday, again the experience I gained will last me a lifetime, I was thoroughly impressed with the level of professionalism everyone held during the hectic schedule of Saturday. Again I got to meet even more global people whilst sharing and forming our own memories. Although I was on the live broadcasting team I managed to observe the stage management side of the event as the departments worked closely with one another and as I have an interest in stage management I took this as an opportunity to learn more. Next time I will network and make contacts!

I am grateful for the opportunity Asia Lab has provided me and can't wait to join them on their next event to continue to learn both personally and professionally!

감사합니다 Asia Lab!

During my internship with Asia Lab, I had the incredible opportunity to work with the documentary team for the "Runway to Seoul" event. From conducting interviews with amazing people to capturing behind-the-scenes moments of models getting ready for the runway, it was a whirlwind of activity and creativity. I had the privilege of interacting with influencers. Being a part of the documentary team allowed me to gain valuable insights into the meticulous planning and execution of a large-scale fashion event. Working with a diverse team of professionals from different backgrounds and cultures was an enriching experience, fostering a creative and supportive environment. Looking back, I am grateful for the invaluable experiences and lessons I gained during this internship. The skills and knowledge acquired will undoubtedly shape my future endeavors.