3/29/24, 8:07 PM 3-minute Travel Guide: Seoul, Korea - UCEAP Blog

TRAVEL LEARN LIVE 

3-MINUTE TRAVEL
GUIDE:
SEOUL, KOREA

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DON’T FORGET TO PACK Your favorite mosquito repellent! If you have curly hair, bring all
the products. I couldn’t find products for curly hair, and heat protectant spray isn’t widely
available either. Bring a good amount of clothing that can be styled differently for all the
seasons you’ll be there. South Korea is very fashion-centric, but the clothes you can buy
are generally smaller than in the US.

Women: bring deodorant and for your comfort, bring your preferred menstrual products
(there’s not a lot of variety).

Pro tip: bring one ‘extra’ copy of the recommended documents for yourself. At
orientation for KU, I had to give the staff all five photocopies of my passport. I couldn’t
fathom that they would actually need all five, but UCEAP was right—they did! Make one
extra copy for yourself.

BEST LEFT AT HOME School supplies and skin care—so many stores have great deals on
these items.

WHERE TO LIVE I recommend a goshiwon rather than the on-campus dorms. Friends who
lived in the dorms said the application process was complex, rife with glitches, and
housing filled up quickly. The dorms are also situated on the top of a hill, so if you’re there
in the summer, it can be a hot, humid walk uphill every day.

A goshiwon is a small, private space with everything you need: a bed, private bathroom,
mini fridge, closet, shelves, and cabinets (think a tiny efficiency apartment). You may have
to splurge a bit for a good goshiwon, but honestly, if you plan to explore a lot and make
the most of your stay in Korea, you don’t need a lot of room. Be sure to research carefully
and talk with the owner before you rent (this is for your safety and to be courteous). I
stayed at KU Guesthouse because it’s on Anam Street near so many great food places and
close to everything (especially the Science campus). Plus, the landlady was a sweetheart!

BEST EATS NEAR CAMPUS I miss Okduheon Handmade Tofu (옥두헌손두부) the most.
Their chicken stew was so delicious, they gave lots of side dishes, and the prices were so
affordable. Their bibimbap was also delicious. Another great place is Chuncheonjip Korea
University Branch (춘천집 고대점). This is a dakgalbi place (spicy stir-fried chicken), but
there are several add-ons you can buy, such as cheese tteok (I highly recommend). To find
these places, paste the Korean name into Naver Maps (South Korea’s GPS navigation
app).

FAVORITE KOREAN ACTIVITY Walking around the markets where there are many street
foods and shops. Myeongdong, Namdaemun, and Gwangjang markets are some of my
favorite markets because of the variety and prices. If you like art and crafts, the
Gwangjang market has a lot of affordable materials.
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WHERE TO STUDY Study cafes are very common in Korea. This is one of the reasons you
don’t need a big room when renting in Korea. You can easily take your work to a café or a
library.

MUST-TRY LOCAL DISH If you like chicken, cheese, and glass noodles, you have to try
jjimdak! This was one of my first meals in Korea, and it was so delicious that my mouth still
waters just thinking about it.

BEST PHOTO OP If you are studying abroad during the fall, I suggest going to the Science
Campus and taking pictures there in November (when the leaf colors change). Most
students don’t go to the Science campus, but there are fantastic photo opportunities with
beautiful trees and stairs.

BIGGEST FAIL Not going out more. Korea has so much to offer. It’s a beautiful place with
so many exciting and diverse activities. After winter came, I went out less, and I regret
that. The winter season has its own charm. Just make sure to layer your clothes and
bundle up!

BUY THIS The Korail pass! These are bullet train passes, and the faster train is actually
cheaper. However, the most important thing you’ll buy is a T-money card, which can be
filled up and used to pay for buses, subways, and even taxis. It can also be used at some
stores, but it’s an absolute must for public transportation.

NOT THAT Clothing from outlets (it’s very expensive, thrifting is cheaper).

MOST INTERESTING CLASS Introduction to Korean and East Asian History (HOKA004).
Exactly as the title suggests, you learn about the history of East Asia, giving you a
perspective on the politics between East Asian countries and how it relates to day-to-day
life in Korea.

BEST PART OF THE PROGRAM Making new friends and solo exploring Korea. While group
activities are fun and exciting, one of my most memorable experiences in Korea was
traveling to Pyeongchang and exploring on my own. Korea is pretty safe, and although I
was a little scared to do things by myself, it was so worth it. My self-confidence and self-
satisfaction shot up once I set my fear aside and started doing things by myself.

UNFORGETTABLE WEEKEND TRIPS Seoul has much to offer, but taking weekend trips to
other cities is a different adventure altogether. While Busan is a must-go place, it is a big
city like Seoul, so the vibe is similar. I suggest going East to Chuncheon or Gangneung.
Chuncheon is about an hour away by train, and Gangneung is a little over two hours away.
I preferred the small-town feel, slow pace, and beautiful simplicity over the fast-paced big
cities.
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BONUS PRO TIPS Learn to read Hangeul. Menus are just English words written in Korean.

Don’t take too many difficult classes. You will be very distracted while studying abroad
and unable to focus on complex studies. Also, remember that grading and the study
culture are different abroad.

Even if you don’t make friends or travel buddies, go out and explore by yourself! You’ll
regret staying in.

Most of the time, locals prefer not to interact with foreigners, so if there are clubs or
programs for international students, take advantage of them. This will help you make
friends with local students.

Keep up to date with politics and news, and sign up for STEP—the US government’s way
of keeping track of where you are and ensuring you are accounted for in case of
international emergencies. When I was in Korea, I received messages about the goings-on
of North Korean missile launches, which served as a good source of knowledge.

Finally, apply for scholarships! I would not have had such a good experience without the
Gilman Scholarship. It was integral to my study abroad plans and I was grateful to receive
it.

AFREEN ALI
Study Abroad Program: Korea University
Program Locations Seoul, South Korea
Other Countries Visited: Bangladesh, Dubai, and Ireland
Home University: UC Davis
Major: Genetics and Genomics
Year: Senior (class of 2023)

Afreen’s first study abroad trip the summer of 2019, in Ireland.

She planned to study abroad again in Korea summer 2020, but
it was canceled due to COVID. She never gave up on her dream
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to study abroad again, and decided that Korea would be the

last (proverbial) hurrah before graduation. She had to
coordinate with many advisors to make the plan come to
fruition, and after many struggles, she managed to achieve her
goal. Study abroad in Korea was everything she hoped and
expected to be and so much more. She gained a higher
appreciation for Korean culture and food while also coming to
terms with the rigorous study culture. One of the craziest
things she experienced was the Korean University Field Day—a
weekend sporting event with thousands of students on the
street! She never saw anything like that before.

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