For students deciding to study abroad, it could be quite hard to decide a country to spend the next couple of months living in. For me, I was quite stuck between choosing South Korea or Thailand. Ultimately, inspired by my Korean aunt, I chose Seoul and I have come to be thankful for my choice. For students considering studying abroad in South Korea, I highly recommend doing so, and here are 5 reasons why!
1. The Food
First and foremost, the food alone is worth the trip! Korean food is absolutely delicious and usually, especially when you are eating street food, it is also much cheaper than food in the U.S! While many dishes have made their way to the US and have become quite popular such as KBBQ, others haven't quite become as popular, so take the chance to try some amazing food such as tteokbokki and kimchi stew. Across Seoul, you can also find numerous restaurants that have earned a Michelin Star but are still very affordable for students!
2. The History
Seoul is a city filled with history and South Korea itself is a country that has undergone numerous triumphs and challenges as it grew over time. Visiting Seoul is a chance to learn more about its history and see history come alive by for example strolling through the palaces or taking a walk to follow the Fortress Wall of Seoul! Seoul is also such an amazing place in how historical landmarks are right in the center of the city landscape illuminating the diversity Seoul has to offer.
3. The Shopping
While studying abroad is clearly meant for studying, it's also a chance for students to get their hands on goods from abroad to take back home! If you choose to come to South Korea, I definitely recommend packing light, as Seoul has some amazing shopping centers that sell nearly everything. If you come to Seoul, you get a chance to buy a whole new wardrobe and more for much less than it would be back home! While this definitely shouldn't be your deciding factor, it would definitely still be something to look forward to if you were to decide to come!
4. The Nature
For my nature or hiking lovers out there, Seoul may be for you! Though it is a large city, there are numerous large mountains all around Seoul ready to be hiked, and even within the city it's quite green with beautiful trees. If you study abroad during the fall or winter, you additionally get a chance to see the leaves begin turning beautiful shades of red and yellow or even get to see the first snow! Also close by is the Han River which is always ready to be visited and the perfect place to have a picnic!
5. The Culture
For students truly looking to step out of their comfort zone, Seoul is an amazing place to do this as Korean society holds a very different culture that in some ways directly opposes American culture. It is something very interesting to learn about that may open your worldview and change your perspective on things back home. However, there is also no need to be scared as I've been treated quite well by locals despite my little fumbles here and there and many Korean people speak English well, so chances are someone will be able to help you out!
Blog by Jazzlyn Gonzalez-Ortiz, Grand Canyon University
Semester in Seoul - Sogang University