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Why Study Abroad in South Korea?

Published on August 18, 2022

Interested in studying abroad? South Korea fits most study abroad criteria to perfection, as a country with a long, deep rooted history of schooling. To this day, education remains a cornerstone of Korean society. Studying in Korea as a foreigner lets you dive headfirst into this learning tradition, as well as into a whole lot of other amazing goodies.

view of seoul from the bay at sunrise

South Korea is one of the most enriching study abroad destinations.

While Seoul is typically everyone’s study abroad darling, don’t miss out on some other charming destinations, such as Daegu or Chuncheon. No matter which exciting city you choose, you’ll find it a piece of fishcake to explore any corner of the southern peninsula during breaks with new friends.

With so many amazing sites to see, you’ll have all the motivation you need to have your studies done each week before you can say kimchi.

Over the past few years, South Korea has become more and more popular as a destination for international students. So, why study abroad in South Korea? We promise there’s more to it than Kpop and binge-worthy dramas (although that’s definitely a perk)!

Is it easy to study abroad in South Korea?

person smiling up at the sky from under a yellow umbrella during a rainstorm in busan

The preparation to study abroad in South Korea will be worth it!

Whoa there, eager beaver! Before counting off all the super fantastic reasons why you should study abroad in South Korea, let’s be practical. How about those logistics? How many obstacles along the application process should you expect and is a program here doable for the ordinary student?

Long story short, South Korea has a fairly simple process in place for foreign students, as well as some pretty great conditions too. Even if you’re left scratching your head at any time, there are countless great tools out there to help simplify your journey, such as StudyInKorea, a rich resource run by the Korean government.

After admission into a university program, you’re able to apply for your student visa. There are a few different visa types you can get as a foreign student depending on your studies (i.e. language school vs. exchange student course). Your home university or study abroad program will usually have the support in place to help lead you through this legal process.

When it comes to price, cost of living and tuition in South Korea are typically affordable compared to the United States or even neighboring Japan, especially outside Seoul. Tuition and rent are typically covered through a flat program fee by many study abroad providers.

If given the option to choose your own housing, there are tons of great options specifically for students, ranging from dorms to share-houses.

READ: 12 Ways to Succeed During Study Abroad in South Korea

11 reasons why studying in South Korea as a foreigner is awesome

top down view of a bowl of bibimbap and kimchi on a table

Pro Tip: Don’t skip the bibimbap and kimchi.

Living abroad anywhere is amazing enough, but what about study in South Korea for international students? Here’s what makes up its own unique flavor.

1. Complete homework using the world’s fastest internet

Yes, it’s true—South Korea takes the lead for the fastest internet globally! Let’s face it. Study abroad students have a special kind of bond with their phones and internet. From looking up a bus route into town to translating a menu to staying connected with family back home, the internet is a definite lifeline abroad.

Once you’re hooked up through a local phone plan in Korea, you can kiss those dreadful days of long load times goodbye.

Lag? Don’t know her.

2. Experience the buzz around Korean pop culture first-hand

Even if you don’t know every group chant, dance, and lyric for your favorite Kpop band (yet), you’ll have plenty of time to learn. The Korean Wave has been crashing at the world’s shores for years, so you’re probably already familiar with Korean drama (like Squid Game) or music group (like BTS or BLACKPINK) at the very least.

As a student in South Korea, you can bond with classmates over biases after class, or opt for a cozy night in with some fried chicken delivery as you catch up on the latest Kdrama taking streaming services by storm.

3. Unlimited access to premium skincare and cute face masks

No longer will you have to travel far to Asian specialty stores or order online for a cute lip stain color. Skincare and makeup hobbyists rejoice, because you’ve never seen a spread this big on every street corner.

Breaking out from stress before a big exam? Pulled an all nighter on a redeye flight back from Jeju Island? Korean skincare has got you and those blemishes ultra covered. In fact, studying in Korea as a foreigner has never looked so good.

4. Work from any kind of wacky cafe, from Alice in Wonderland to Hello Kitty themed

two people ordering drinks at a small cafe in korea

Or even just a chilled out one.

You may have heard the legends of East Asia’s animal cafes, where you can enjoy a delicious latte while stroking a cat (or even meerkat!) off to the side. Korea’s not only got an incredibly strong cafe culture (with crazy fast wifi, as mentioned above), but quirky themed cafes to take it to the next level.

If you need another reason to study abroad in South Korea, be sure to scout out the airplane, sheep, toilet, and plant themed cafes for future study dates.

5. Learn to read Korean on the flight over

King Sejong created the Korean alphabet, Hangul, in the 1400s to promote literacy among commoners. To this day, the phonetic alphabet remains a godsend to learners of the language, especially compared to the complex writing systems of neighboring China and Japan that can take a lifetime to master!

It’s often said that you can easily cram Hangul in a flight over the Pacific and memorize each letter. Once you land, you’ll be able to easily hit the ground running (quite literally) and start sounding out every sign you see on the way out of the airport.

6. Discover the true joys of street food

From tteokbokki to kimbap and baked sweet potatoes to heavenly custard-filled fish-shaped desserts, street food is a staple in Korean culture. These culinary delights range from mouth-watering sweets to joyfully spicy meals on the go. A student budget will go a long way to cover snacks for your late night study party cravings.

TL;DR: Study abroad in South Korea means your tastebuds will also get an equally fulfilling education.

7. Get by on basic English for day-to-day needs

a street in seoul lit up in neon at night

Don’t worry—you don’t need to be fluent in Korean to enjoy your study abroad experience.

When traveling somewhere new, it’s usually common to receive advice from others about how “everyone speaks English” and “you’ll be totally fine without knowing the language”. More seasoned travelers will know how horribly inaccurate this sometimes pans out to be, especially when veering slightly away from tourist traps.

However, we’ll go out on a limb here to offer that the average young, college-aged Korean student can hold their own in English and whip out vocabulary you barely knew yourself. All in all, South Korea has a moderate English proficiency, placing it between Italy’s and Taiwan’s levels.

8. Study at some of the world’s best universities

If you’re hunting for some added prestige from your study abroad program, you’re in luck! The Korean S-K-Y universities include Seoul National University, Korea University, and Yonsei University, and all rank in the top 105 in the world.

They are equivalent to the American Ivy League in reputation, meaning a degree from one of these schools practically guarantees success in Korea.

While there are lots of great opportunities to study abroad at one of these three universities, you’ll also be happy to know that several other Korean institutions equally enjoy top global rankings. Talk about a flex.

9. Find tons of opportunity for government and university financial support

In addition to scholarships offered by your home university, meaningful travel crowdfunding, and other scholarship opportunities, there are tons of other funding options for studying in Korea as a foreigner. The Korean government supports over 2,000 international students each year in their studies and has several scholarships for students of all different backgrounds.

10. Have peace of mind in one of the safest countries to study

two south korean flags waving on a lamp post

Korea is safe for study abroad students, but don’t be careless.

For those stuck on selling study abroad to their parents, you can confidently deliver a comforting piece of news about Korea’s safety.

A major reason why studying abroad in South Korea has become so popular is its stable reputation as a safe destination for students. Despite fears of North Korea’s proximity to South Korea’s capital city, Seoul is actually one of the safest metropolises in the world.

Locals will usually shrug off their northern neighbor’s threats and headlines as they continue through their day-to-day routines. In addition, crime rates are generally low across the country, meaning young students can eat bibimbap to their hearts’ content anywhere in peace.

But of course, a sense of awareness and practiced caution are always a good idea no matter where you travel in the world.

11. Commute with a super convenient public transportation system

While you may be accustomed to hopping in the driver’s seat to check off even the most basic of errands in the US, Korean public transportation will liberate you from all things car in major cities.

Say annyeong to having your basic needs within walking distance or a bus stop away. Likewise, you can easily hop on a train to sniff out national treasures like palaces, mountains, and temples from coast to coast.

Talk to our FREE Online Advisor & get matched with 5 study abroad programs in South Korea

Seize the chance to study in South Korea for international students!

two people in a park sitting under a large tree with yellow leaves

You’ll NEVER forget your study abroad experience in Korea.

So, why study in South Korea?

To summarize, picture yourself taking the subway from your prestigious university to a comic book cafe to work on homework using the world’s fastest wifi with Kpop playing in the background.

You read the menu in Korean and sound out your order, then the barista confirms your drink in English. Afterwards, you pick up some facemasks for later and fishcakes from a street vendor before walking back home at midnight through a beautifully safe street. Oh, and the whole thing is funded.

With the emerging popularity of this destination, you’ll be far from the first one to venture out into South Korea. With tons of resources to help you succeed, you’ll have all you need to confidently tackle anything Korea throws at you, including red pepper infused everything.

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