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Korea

About

• CIA World Factbook - basic facts and figures
• Embassy website - visitor information including visa requirements
• Educational and cultural information from IIE - educational and cultural information

Health and Safety

• See the U.S. State Department Consular Information Sheet for information about security within the country, for any Travel Warnings that may have been issued, as well as information about visas and other travel documentation you may need before you leave.
• See the Center for Disease Control's Travelers' Health page for information about health concerns or required vaccinations.
• Study abroad students are advised to register themselves with the U.S. Embassy in the host country, either in person or online at https://travelregistration.state.gov/.

Student Experiences

Messages from Past Students

• "Korea is not a typical place to visit but really has a lot more to offer than most would think. It is a truly amazing experience. I know that everyone else in the program felt the same way."
• "Everyone we met was welcoming and friendly and more than happy to answer any questions we had. It was easy to get around and I found that there were many similarities to my own culture."
• "Koreans were very welcoming to Americans and were very patient with us when it came to their customs."
• "Many were eager to meet Americans, though shy about speaking English.  Americans get some stares in certain areas, but not unfriendly, just curious.  Koreans are very generous and hospitable people."
• "While the middle-aged generation has some issues with foreigners and Americans specifically, the oldest and younger generations are very friendly towards outsiders. And even though we heard the middle-aged generation had some issues with foreigners, we did not experience any problems while we were there and everyone treated us nicely and with respect."
• "Our classes were similar to what we experience in the United States, however, the Korean school system is very different than the American system in that students go to school longer, take more classes, and often study up to 12 hours a day."
• "In Korea, we experienced cultural opportunities such as sightseeing, trying on traditional clothes, eating traditional foods, visiting a folk village and palaces, and going to the DMZ. We also saw a dance show called “The ballerina who loves a b-boy” and a famous musical show called “Nanta”. We went to a mud festival and had the chance to learn taekwondo and traditional drums. There was a good balance of educational and fun things that was really good for
  people our age."
• "Korea has a lot to offer in terms of culture and natural beauty.  There are mountains AND the ocean easily accessible!  The standard of living is high and there’s great shopping. [...] The Korean students I met were all very friendly and helpful, so it made the transition very easy.  You can even join the campus clubs if you like. [...] Of course, if you can budget it, you can also visit other Asian countries!"
• "Be open-minded, get to know your roommates, DON’T PACK MUCH, participate on campus, use your weekends wisely and try to plan travel with your Korean friends as well as the Americans. One of my favorite memories was a roadtrip to the beach with my American and Korean friends. "