During the summer of 2019 I had the opportunity to study abroad in Seoul, South Korea for 22 days as part of a Language & Culture program hosted by Kookmin University. I lived in a dormitory on campus, attended language classes four days a week, cultural activities two afternoons each week, and all day field trips on Fridays. In my free time I enjoyed exploring Seoul with my classmates. It was pretty darn amazing and I feel blessed to of met and made so many wonderful friends during my stay.
I have created this page to serve as an index, and a quick overview, of my time in South Korea. Click on the blue titles for each day to be taken to the blog post made for that day.
Week 1
Traveling to South Korea
Day 1: Saturday, July 20th
- Flying from Nashville to Seoul
- Train from Incheon to Seoul Station
- K-Pop Hotel Seoul Station
Arrival at Kookmin University
Day 2: Sunday, July 21st
- Traveled by subway and bus to Kookmin University
- Kookmin University
- Dormitory Check-In
- Jeongneung
- Daiso
- Songdam
- Market
- Settled into the Dorm
Orientation & Hongdae
Day 3: Monday, July 22nd
- Kookmin University
- Level Test and Orientation
- Lunch at Bagnok Hall
- Hongdae
- Bingsu at Korean Dessert Cafe
- Harry Potter Cafe
- Line Character Store
First Day of Class & Singing at a Noribang
Day 4: Tuesday, July 23rd
- Kookmin University
- Language Class
- Special Lecture: Korean Millenials
- The Underground
- Dinner at OvenMaru
- Karaoke at a Noribang
Samulnori (Traditional Korean Music)
Day 5: Wednesday, July 24th
- Kookmin University
- Language Class
- Lunch in the Cafeteria with the Kansas Crew
- Field Trip to Fanta-Stick: Traditional Percussion Quartet (Samulnori)
- Dormitory: Rest, Homework, and Laundry
Kookmin Welcome Lunch & Gangnam
Day 6: Thursday, July 25th
- Kookmin University
- Language Class
- Welcome Lunch with Director Lee
- Gangnam
- Galleria Department Store
- COEX Mall & Starfield Library
- Earthen Pot Restaurant
- 221b (Sherlock Holmes cafe)
- Star Flux in Study Hall
Lotte World; Train to Busan
Day 7: Friday, July 26th
- Lotte World Field Trip
- Korean Buffet
- Lotte World Folk Museum
- Lotte World Adventure (amusement park)
- Traveling to Busan
- Train from Seoul Station to Busan Station
- AirBnB
Weekend in Busan
Busan Culture Tour
Day 8: Saturday, July 27th
- Busan East Coast Culture Tour
- Haedong Yonggung Temple
- Lunch at Lotte Mall
- Songdo Beach Skywalk
- Gamcheon Culture Village
Taejongdae Park
Day 9: Sunday, July 28th
- Busan
- Taejongdae Park
- Lunch in Yeongdo-gu
- KRX (train) back to Seoul
Week 2
Kimchi Kitchen & Namsangol Hanok Village
Day 10: Monday, July 29th
- Kookmin University
- Language Class
- Field Trip
- Seoul Kimchi Academy
- Namsangol Hanok Village
- Shopping & Dominos in Jeongneung
- Chicken Truck
- Group dinner in the Study Hall
Rest Day
Day 11: Tuesday, July 30th
- Kookmin University
- Language Class
- Special Lecture: K-Pop: What, Who, and How?
- Cafe and Homework w/Tabitha and Jeremiah
- Fried Chicken Dinner at NOM in the Underground
- Star Flux in Study Hall
K-Pop Dance Class & Hongdae
Day 12: Wednesday, July 31st
- Kookmin University
- Language Class
- Lunch in the Cafeteria
- Field Trip: K-Pop Dance Class
- Hongdae
- Arriate Flower Cafe
- Busking
- Korean BBQ
- Shopping
Myeongdong
Day 13: Thursday, August 1st
- Kookmin University
- Language Class
- Lunch in the Cafeteria
- Myeongdong Shopping Street
- Four Seasons 100% Milk Snow Flake House
- Underground Mall – Luggage Shopping
- The Gundam Base + K-Pop Shop
- Exploring Downtown
- Dinner at Korea Market
- Met Mausam & Sushant at the Namsan Tower Cable Cars
TEMPLE STAY & DONGDAEMUN
Day 14, Friday, August 2nd
- Temple Stay at Beomnyunsa Temple (field trip)
- Tea Ceremony
- Monk Lunch
- Bracelet Making
- Temple Tour
- Kookmin
- Dongdaemun Design Plaza
GEONGBUK PALACE, INSADONG, AND BANPO BRIDGE
DAY 15, Saturday, August 3rd
- Jongno-gu
- Hanbok rentals
- Geongbuk Palace
- Lunch at Pizza School
- Insadong Shopping Street
- Banpo Bridge, Han River
- Boating
Touring the DMZ
DAY 16: Sunday, August 4th
- Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) Half-Day Tour
- Imjingak Park
- Dorasan Station
- Dora Observatory
- 3rd Infiltration Tunnel
- Korean Ginseng Center
- Downtown Seoul
- Insadong
- Kookmin
Week 3
SMTOWN MUSEUM & NAMSAN TOWER
Day 17: Monday, August 5th
- Kookmin University
- Skipped Class to rest
- Gangnam
- Field Trip to SMTown Museum
- Coex Starlight Mall
- Marvel Shop/Museum
- Dinner (iced jjamppong) with Kevin
- Namsan Seoul Tower (남산서울타워)
BUKCHON HANOK VILLAGE & ITAEWON
Day 18: Tuesday, August 6th
- Kookmin University
- Language Class
- Lunch at Baguk Hall
- Bukchon Hanok Village
- Bukchon Observatory
- Cha Masineun Tteul (teahouse)
- Itaewon with Kevin & Stacie
- Innisfree (skincare shop)
- The Halal Guys (dinner)
- Thursday Party
SCHOOL, PIZZA, AND A BOARD GAME CAFE
Day 19: Wednesday, August 7th
- Kookmin University
- Language Class: Oral Presentations
- Skipped Cultural Activity (teahouse) to rest
- Walked to Pizza School in Jeongneug-dong
- Spent the evening at the Board Game Cafe
LOL PARK + JAG VS KZ (2019 LCK SUMMER)
Day 20: Thursday, August 8th
- Kookmin University
- Language Class: Oral Presentations/Test
- Lunch at the Cafeteria
- LoL Park
- Riot Store & Exhibits
- Dinner at the Bilgewater Cafe
- LCK Summer 2019 Game: JAG vs KZ
- (Jin Air Green Wings vs Kingzone DragonX)
- KZ Fan Meeting
- Riot PC Bang
- Cheong Gye Gheon Plaza
- Board Game Cafe
Completion Ceremony & Multi-bang Slumber Party
Day 21: Friday, August 9th
- Kookmin University
- Completion Ceremony
- Completion Lunch
- Hongdae
- Rolling Dice (tabletop game shop)
- Eight Stones (jewelry shop)
- We all got custom friendship rings to commemorate our trip.
- Lunch at Shanti, an Indian & Nepali restaurant
- Han River Adventures with Alex
- Seonyudo Park
- Lost
- Red Sky Cafe, Dongjak Bridge
- Gangnam
- Chicken & Beer with Lena & Group
- MultiBang karaoke/movies/slumber party at MPLUS
Farewell South Korea
Day 22: Saturday, August 10th
- Leaving South Korea
- Returning to the dorm after a night in a Multi-bang
- Dormitory Check-Out & Final Farewells
- Incheon Airport
- Flight to Seatle, WA
- Back in the USA
- Flight to Nashville, TN
- Dinner with Friends
- Car Trouble & Drive Home