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Study abroad in Korea
South Korea, like much of developed Asia, is a fabulous paradox, where a long history and a fast-developing modernity seem to co-exist seamlessly. There are over 2 million undergraduates in the country and, over 80 per cent choose to pursue a higher education in South Korea.
Country overview
When economists coined the phrase ‘the Asian Tiger’, South Korea could be the country they were referring to. Over the last few decades, South Korea’s economy and associated benefits, including its education, tourism and transport systems, have boomed, changing the country’s visual look almost beyond belief in a very short space of time.
South Korea, like much of developed Asia, is a fabulous paradox, where a long history and a fast-developing modernity seem to co-exist seamlessly. It’s possible, from the 23rd story of a Seoul skyscraper, to look down on tiny 13th Century temples. Or, a short ride from the bustling port of Pusan, you can find yourself staring up at Asia’s tallest statue of the Buddha.
South Korea is a very interesting place to visit and live in. Politically, South Korea and North Korea have never signed a peace treaty since the war of the mid-1950s and so the countries remain at an unofficial truce. Panmunjeom, in the demilitarized zone at the border between the two countries, is worth a visit to see how the two nations uneasily co-exist, albeit from a very partisan perspective. Itaewon, in Seoul city, is an American military base and the US influence can be felt over much of the country without being overly intrusive. The food is fabulous and varied and there is much to do with modern shops and entertainment districts in most of the major cities, most of which are open 24-hours a day (you can even rent rooms and watch DVDs by the hour!)
Getting out into the country is a great way to experience South Korea. It is a small country but extremely varied and diverse and trips out of the big cities can be more rewarding than in many other places. English is spoken to a certain extent, in the cities especially, and South Koreans are well educated and generally less timid than their Japanese neighbours when speaking foreign languages. Of course, you will be a big hit if you learn some South Korean to show willing to your hosts. Although the writing system (hangul) looks alien to non-South Koreans, it is actually simpler than it looks. Give it a try. It will improve your living experience in South Korea many times over.
There are no required vaccinations for entry to South Korea and standards of medical care are high. Payment for treatment is usually expected in advance. Medical insurance with provision for repatriation is also recommended for foreigners, as anywhere. Tipping is not customary in South Korea though taxi drivers are usually tipped if they assist with baggage.
South Korea is a safe country and the crime rate against foreigners is low, but it is still advisable to use sensible precautions particularly in safeguarding passports, money and credit cards in crowded areas and travel only in legitimate taxis or public transport.
Education overview
South Korean high school education is largely based on the Japanese system, which means that it is highly exam-based with a great deal of rote-learning and less room for creativity in the classroom than many Westerners are used to. Inevitably, this has an influence on the system at undergraduate level too. However South Korean culture places a very high emphasis on education and getting into the best schools is seen as one of the most important targets that a South Korean has.
South Koreans have traditionally placed great importance on education. According to the British Council, there are over 2 million undergraduates in the country and, over 80 per cent choose to pursue a higher education in South Korea. The pressure on South Korean students is therefore immense. It is perceived that the only way to get ahead, is to attend one of the top universities, known as SKY (Seoul National University, Korea University and Yonsei University). These are the big three in terms of networking and most politicians and other decision makers attended them. They are considered to be very conservative too. Admission to a prestigious university is considered a key life achievement, however, South Korea also has a very large number of students studying overseas, particularly in the USA, China, Japan and the UK (particularly at postgraduate level).
Unfortunately, South Korean Universities are having trouble attracting students to all of their top university courses and even keeping them in the country, particularly since the recession of 1997, which hit South Korea hard. One positive result of this, however, is that many more South Korean courses are now offering partnership schemes with overseas educators meaning that most undergraduate students will spend at least some of their time overseas.
Tuition fees are payable at all South Korean universities, although the costs are relatively inexpensive as South Korea’s birth-rate is dropping rapidly and supply is outstripping demand for places. Smaller and more innovative universities exist such as Sogang University. Sogang, as well as Yonsei University, Hongik University and Ewha Womans University are all located close to each other in the same area in Seoul, leading to a very vibrant and studenty feel in this part of the city known as Sinchon.
Other top names include: Seoul National University, Korea University, South Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Pusan National University, Kyungpook National University, and a handful of private institutions such as Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), , Hanyang University, Sungkyunkwan University and Hankuk University of Foreign Studies.
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State of the art infrastructure 
English less widely spoken than in some countries
International student accommodation
Dormitories exist at many of the main campuses. Seoul National University charges KRW 527,400 (about US$572, August 2007) for a year’s accommodation. Private rental is also available but there are some tricky laws and cultural points that you will need to thoroughly check out with the International Student Office before paying any money.
When you get your own place in South Korea, be very aware that you may have to leave a HUGE amount of money as a deposit. This not only presents the problem of finding the money in the first place but of having hundreds of thousands of Won in cash when you leave!
This column is unable to offer further advice at this point other than to say: Check with the individual schools.
Weather/Climate
The climate in South Korea is temperate with four very distinct seasons. Summers are very hot and humid June to September, while in winter temperatures plummet to below freezing. Autumn and spring are the most comfortable seasons to visit South Korea. Most of the rain falls in summer during a monsoon season known as 'jangma', and July can be very wet indeed! Pollution, largely from China, can be a problem in spring time, especially relevant to you if you are an allergy sufferer or have asthma.
Religion
South Korea is, perhaps surprisingly, a very Christian country and more than any country in Asia other than the Philippines, you will see churches of Christian denomination all over. It is safe to say that Protestants are considered the conservatives in South Korea and Catholics the liberals. Universities are often aligned with one or the other so be aware of this if you feel strongly about such issues. Of course, as a Confucian country, there is an ideology of neo-Confucianism that exists in South Korea. There isn’t room to explain here what that means but it’s worth knowing about if you plan to go there. Of course Zen Buddhism features strongly there too and even Shamanism to a lesser extent.
Transport
The economic boom of the 1960s saw a massive expansion of the road systems all over South Korea, but with that came the boom in the car industry and an associated problem with parking, pollution and congestion. Work is continuing on the excellent subway system in Seoul and train links are being developed all the time to take the strain off the main roads. But Seoul is a big Asian city and, congestion comes with the territory! The bus system is pretty good but as for the taxis… they are beyond explanation. A taxi driver will fill his car with strangers and, if you aren’t going the way he is going, he won’t pick you up. Simple as that.
Cost*
| Item | Price (Won) |
| small bottle of water | 500 |
| litre of petrol | 1500 |
| souvenir t-shirt | 5000 |
| Movie ticket | 7000 |
| local newspaper | 700 |
| litre of bottled water | 1100 |
| loaf of bread | 1600 |
| street snack (Tteobokki) | 2000 |
| food court lunch | 6000 |
*WorldGuide Index from Lonely Planet
Useful info
Dialing code: 82
Currency: Republic of Korean Won (W)
Time zone: GMT/UTC +9 ()
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