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International Joint Program
IJP Report (TUMSAT October 2024 - March 2025)
2026.04.22
[Motivation for applying]
When I was in high school, I was very interested in Japanese culture and my biggest dream was to study in Japan as an exchange student. While I was a law student at Korea Maritime and Ocean University, I was very interested in international law and maritime law. Then, I learned about the International Joint Program organized by OQEANOUS Plus, and I got a great opportunity to study at TUMSAT as an exchange student.
[Discovering a new perspective]
Photo 1 How I study
When I studied maritime law before, I could see maritime space from the Korean perspective, which limited my ability to think beyond my country's viewpoint. At TUMSAT, I took Professor Okochi's Theory and Practice of International Law of the Sea class and was introduced to the case study method of teaching. Unlike my university classes in Korea, where I was forced to listen to lectures one-sidedly, I was able to freely express my opinions and listen to the opinions of other classmates, allowed me to break free from my previous tendency to focus on stereotypical or predetermined answers. I believe that this broadened perspective will give me a wider range of options not only in my studies but also in my life.
[On friendships across borders]
The worries of living alone for a semester in a foreign country, in an unfamiliar place, without knowing a single person, scared me before I left. But in Japan, I never once felt lonely, thanks to my tutor, Kishimoto, and his lab mates, Jyo, and Kyungsun. They warmly welcomed me and always invited me over for dinner because they were worried that I would be lonely. I especially remember the Takoyaki party and the trip to Sapporo.
Photo 2 Memories with my friends
I was worried that we would have trouble communicating because we were speaking in Japanese, which is not our native language, but we were able to understand what each other wanted to say 100%, or even more, as if we had known each other since we were children, and we were able to share our hearts and treat each other as people, rather than as nationalities, native languages, or other things that define us. I'll never forget the look on their faces when they saw me off when I returned to Korea.
[Thoughts]
There's a Japanese song called "Diamonds" by Princess Princess. If I had to summarize my time in Japan in one word, it would be 'diamonds'. Although it was a short time of five months, I think I had a lot of opportunities not only to gain academic knowledge, but also to learn how to adapt to a new environment and grow myself.
The process of taking various classes in Japanese and presenting in Japanese was not easy, but it has greatly improved not only my academic confidence but also my language skills. In particular, the ability to organize and present mythoughts in Japanese has become a valuable asset that I will continue to use in the future.
In addition to my studies, another invaluable part of my exchange experience was being able to travel to Nikko, Yokohama, Kamakura, Sapporo, and other areas of Japan to experience the country's history and culture first-hand. These experiences gave me a deeper understanding of the country.
I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my school, professors, and friends for providing me with such a valuable opportunity. Although it was not easy to face challenges in a new environment, they helped me grow in the process, which made my time here even more meaningful. Moving forward, I hope to apply what I have learned here and continue broadening my perspective in both my studies and life.
Photo 3 Moments when I felt Japanese culture
