A nation supplying a beguiling mixture of the ancient plus the futuristic, the commercial plus the religious, warp-speed metropolitan action and serene rural isolation, Southern Korea is an excellent play ground for international pupils.
Its capital town, Seoul, has expanded into among the world’s leading financial hubs, and Korea’s universities have actually in modern times experienced a boom that is similar. With a remarkable 24 universities in Southern Korea rated among the top that is world’s universities when you look at the QS World University Rankings® 2014/15 and 45 rated within the top 300 for the QS University Rankings: Asia 2015, Southern Korea is just one of the region’s major educational centers, supplying an ever more appealing study abroad choice for pupils throughout the world.
Regardless of which South Korean university you determine to learn at, keep reading for the range of the most truly effective 10 things you can do in South Korea while you’re here, to make the much of your experience!
1. Explore the jungle that is urban of
Top universities in Southern Korea’s capital: Seoul nationwide University (SNU, 31 st when you look at the globe positioning); Yonsei University (106 th ); Korea University (116 th ); Sungkyunkwan University (140 th ); Hanyang University (219 th ), Kyung Hee University (275 th ). For lots more top universities in Southern Korea, look at the QS University Rankings: Asia 2015.
A metropolis that is dizzying a population of 10 million – surpassing perhaps the loves of London, Berlin and New York – Seoul is just one of the 21 st century’s undisputed metropolitan powerhouses. If you’re visiting Seoul the very first time, the place that is best to have a feeling of its epic scale and also to simply take with its sparkling cityscape in the evening, could be the iconic N Seoul Tower. Perched atop Namsan hill when you look at the town center, the tower rises up to a lofty 479 meters above ocean degree, supplying site site visitors with stunning panoramic views throughout the town.
No matter how long your program lasts if you’re studying abroad in Seoul, you can be sure this sprawling metropolis will keep throwing up new adventures and surprises. If you’re looking for a cultural top-up, get started with Seoul’s four UNESCO World Heritage web web web sites: Changdeokgung, a 15 th century palace built because of the Joseon dynasty; the imposing 18 th century Hwaseong Fortress; Jongmyo, the earliest extant Confucian shrine; while the Royal Tombs regarding the Joseon dynasty.
For retail treatment, check out the Dongdaemun that is massive Market consists of 26 shopping centers extending over 10 obstructs. If you wish to look into Seoul’s nightlife, the Hongdae region around Hongik University is Southern Korea’s celebration main – take your choose from literally a huge selection of pubs, restaurants, boutiques and nightclubs.
2. See Gyeongju, money associated with ancient kingdom of Silla
Top universities near Gyeongju: Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH, 86 th in the field ratings); Yeungnam University (135 th within the rankings that are asian; Kumoh National Institute of tech (unranked); Handong Global University (unranked).
The ancient city of Gyeongju is referred to as вЂthe museum without walls’. It gets rather overrun by swarms of tourists through the summer, with eight to nine million individuals visiting the region every year. But there is however a really valid reason for this – Gyeongju is an extraordinarily well-preserved piece of Korean history which will dazzle you using its beauty.
The capital that is former of ancient kingdom of Silla, Gyeongju contains a myriad of architectural and historic treasures, including three UNESCO World Heritage web sites: Seokguram Grotto, Bulguksa Temple, and Gyeongju Historic Areas. If you’re history buff, check out the Gyeongju nationwide Museum, which houses over 16,000 items.
Do you know…? The kingdom of Silla ended up being one of many dynasties that are longest-sustained Asia’s history. One of several previous three kingdoms of Korea (the other people being Goguryeo and Baekje), Silla retained its autonomy for pretty much 1,000 years until its dissolution in advertisement little people tucson az dating 935.
3. Sing your heart away at a вЂnoraebang’
It might now end up being the domain of drunken hen evenings in addition to periodic embarrassing office party in numerous Western nations – but karaoke happens to be massive all over Asia since the 1980s, and nowhere way more compared to South Korea. The noraebang (meaning room’ that isвЂsong is a national institution – supplying private stands by which young Koreans allow down vapor by doing battle from the microphone.
You’ll find noraebangs all over Southern Korea, and also if you’re dubious in the beginning we guarantee you won’t keep Korea without developing your own personal repertoire that is personal of hits and cringeworthy classics. Just just What better method of conquering your inhibitions and breaking the ice together with your new classmates?
4. Get religious by having a temple stay that is korean
Along with getting yourself a world-class education, learning in Southern Korea can also be a opportunity to experience a culture that is new. In the event that you genuinely wish to be immersed, even limited to a couple of days, there’s no better means of accomplishing therefore than remaining in a old-fashioned temple that is korean. Take some time call at one of the most significant blissfully secluded mountainous retreats populated by Korean Buddhist monks, that are available to visitors.
Temple stay was developed as a chance for foreigners to know about Buddhist culture – so be warned, this won’t become your holiday that is average lounging by way of a pool! Site site Visitors reside just as the monks do, which involves getting up before dawn, involved in spiritual solutions, meditation, chanting and prostration, sticking with a vegetarian diet plan, and maintaining silence for big amounts of time. It could maybe perhaps maybe not be everyone’s cup tea, but if you’re willing to take to one thing new, a temple stay will likely to be an event that may remain with you for life – and also you can’t say for sure, it would likely also change the method you look during the globe.
Did you know…? Temple remains in Korea had been popularized if the nation hosted the soccer World Cup in 2002, with Buddhist monks proposing the concept being a way that is alternative accommodate site visitors. Over 100,000 people now be a part of temple remains in Korea every year.