CIEE College Study Abroad in Seoul, South Korea

Walking through the streets of Seoul, looking at each memory made, and each friendship that is truly special to me, it seems that everything is coming to an end soon as the program is finishing. There are so many things I want to get done, and to experience and it doesn’t make it feel like a farewell to Korea, but just appreciation of the growth I’ve experienced during my time abroad.

Each corner of this city holds a moment, whether it was a late-night walk with friends along the Han River, a quiet moment sipping a matcha latte in a cozy café, or laughing uncontrollably over our struggles with the language. These memories are stitched into my heart, not as endings, but as parts of me now. I see the version of myself who first stepped off the plane, nervous, curious, and unsure and compare her to who I am now: someone more confident, more open, and deeply grateful.

Being immersed in a culture so different from my own taught me to be present, to listen, and to step out of my comfort zone. I didn’t just learn about Korea, I learned about myself. This isn’t the end of something, but rather a continuation of a new mindset, a broadened perspective that I’ll carry with me wherever I go.

As the program winds down, I’m not rushing to check things off a bucket list anymore. I’m taking time to savor each day, each conversation, and each sunset over the city skyline. This experience has been more than just travel or study, it’s been about connection, growth, and becoming.

And for that, I’ll never say goodbye to Korea, just thank you.

Yonsei is a great school for language learning, though some of my STEM friends said they wished they took only electives while here. I have always felt very safe in Seoul/South Korea in general, which is especially valuable when coming home from the club at night. There is so much to explore- I would recommend scheduling your classes so that you have a weekday or two off if you can. I loved the freedom of being able to take day trips so I could get the most out of my time here. Also, CIEE organizes some really great events, so definitely sign up for those as quick as possible! Overall, despite having a kind of small room a few districts away form campus, I wouldn't really say I have any major complaints.

Over the last three months, I have had the opportunity to live and study abroad in Seoul South Korea. I knew that I was meant to come to Korea especially after I had taken a trip here 2 years ago. But this program has allowed me to grow as a global citizen, improve my intercultural competence, make new friends, and live without regrets. It is never easy to study abroad but this was the best choice of my whole life and I will continue to live in the moment and love the memories I have made here.

Living and studying abroad in South Korea at Yonsei University has been an experience that I will never forget. In these 4 months I have made life-long friends, memories, and skills that I will cherish forever. I was able to try so many new foods that I now enjoy, learn a new language and watch my skills progress overtime, and travel to other parts of Asia while being here.

Firstly, Yonsei University is in the perfect spot in Seoul. It is in Sinchon which is a lively city that offers everything you could want from all types of restaurants, cafes, karaoke rooms, arcades, shops, and more. Right next to Sinchon is Hongdae which is another lively city that is known for great shopping, street food, and night life. So, right away, I was immediately presented with endless things to do all within walking or bus distance.

Secondly, I come from the countryside of Maine and am very unfamiliar with public transportation. I was worried about coming here just because I knew it was a big city where I would be dependent on public transit but it took me, someone with no experience, maybe a week or so to be able to use the buses, subway, taxi, etc with no issues. The public transit in Seoul is extremely easy to follow, very clean, and very foreigner-friendly.

Lastly, after my time here in South Korea, I truly believe that it is the perfect location for a traveling student. It is very foreigner-friendly friendly and most Koreans I met spoke enough English to be able to help me if I needed it and they were always kind. There is English on all of the signs in the subway, buses, and menus in restaurants. Seoul alone has endless things to do but South Korea is also so much more than just Seoul. Most people like to also travel to Busan or Jeju Island which are great beach spots. Also, since South Korea is in a great location, I was able to travel to Tokyo for five days and I have friends who also went to China, Bali, Thailand, and more.

Overall, I have so much to say about my trip that I could write forever but the best advice that I can give is to just make a bucket list of all the things you want to do, visit, and eat before coming. Once you get to South Korea, you will immediately have so much more to add to the list but it was very helpful to have some outlined ideas. Also, friends here come easily since you all chose to come to the same country because the odds you have something in common are very high, so do not worry about that! I hope you choose to come to South Korea with CIEE and have the best experience like I did and I wish you the best!

Studying abroad in Seoul has been an insightful and unforgettable experience! There will be trials and tribulations but overcoming them has contributed a lot to my experience and I don't regret it.

So grateful to the CIEE and its incredible staff for organizing everything and giving students a smooth transition to academic life!

I would suggest buying your school supplies, water filters (you'll need one), and clothes here. I also recommend living in the SK Global dorm as opposed to Woojungwon.

Hello, my name is Alesandra Lopez. I came to Korea because I love reading manhwas and listening to k-pop. Little did I know how much there truly was do to in Korea. From the cafes to the markets. There’s always something to do, and it’s always fun. The classes depends on the professors. I will say Korean Language classes are really hard and are jam packed with studying. Plus the professors can’t speak English which makes it ten times harder. Other than that this experience was a 10/10, would do again!

I had an amazing time Seoul. One of the many reasons I enjoyed my trip was the gain of independence I got by traveling alone here. The city is safe and many people are kind. I was also able to enhance my Korean as many people are kind enough to let you practice and many people also know a little English to help you get by. I had peace walking neighborhoods without a plan or if I was in the area to get food and just walked around. I also have to eat mostly a plant based diet due to a disease I have and I thought “hmm Korea has many fried, meat based, and milk based foods…this will be hard.” But there are actually SO many vegan restaurants. Some fancy, and some with a really good price. And if you have a sweet tooth, there are many vegan desserts. My personal favorite is Veganique in sinchon.

I had a really amazing time during this program. CIEE seoulmate program was very helpful in making Korean friends and getting to know the area better. I definitely got out of my comfort zone and was able to become more confident and independent. Yonsei was a great school with a beautiful campus, but if you go during the summer definitely be ready for the heat and humidity! This is an experience I will be cherishing for a long time and was a great decision to explore and get to know my own culture and language more.