OUR OQEANOUS STUDENTS

International Joint Program

IJP Report (KMOU September 2024 - December 2024)

2026.04.22

Graduate School of Marine Science and Technology
Course of Marine System Engineering
Second Year of Master's Program
H.A.

[Reasons for applying]

There are three main reasons why I applied to this program.

  1. I wanted to experience living abroad for a certain period as a student, rather than just traveling or staying for a short time, and immerse myself in local university life. I believed that by interacting with local students and international students from other countries through classes and extracurricular activities, I could gain a deeper understanding of the country's educational environment and values from within.
  2. I am interested in research, lectures, and student life at Korean universities. While geographically and culturally close to Japan, there are many differences in the educational system and students' learning attitudes, and I felt that experiencing these things firsthand would be meaningful.
  3. This program offered generous financial support. The reduced costs created an environment where I could focus on my studies, making it an appropriate opportunity for me to take on this challenge as a student.

For these reasons, I believe this program offers a meaningful opportunity for me in terms of learning, experience, and finances, and therefore I decided to apply.

[About Classes]

Lectures are broadly divided into two types: Korean language courses for international students and specialized courses for all students.
I chose the Basic Intermediate course (the third highest level). This course assumed a basic understanding of Hangeul and focused on fundamental grammar, vocabulary, and short reading comprehension using those elements.
Assignments often involved writing self-introductions and other essays using expressions learned in class, requiring students to actually use the material.
At the start of the course, there was only an orientation; students purchased textbooks and workbooks by the following week. These were typically purchased from bookstores or online shopping sites like Coupang (쿠팡).
There were exams at the end of October and mid-December, and since each exam covered the entirety of one textbook, it was necessary to purchase the textbook and workbook twice. The total cost was approximately 7,000 yen.
Personally, I felt the difficulty level was somewhat manageable, and I think I could have challenged myself with a higher-level course.
Regarding specialized subjects, it was difficult to understand everything immediately during lectures, so I needed to review using translation apps and other tools.
After lectures, I made an effort to review and prepare for exams with students from other countries I met during my study abroad, often at cafes, deepening my understanding by mutually confirming the content. I feel that this learning style was effective in grasping specialized content despite the language barrier.

[Daily Life]

Regarding daily life, the support system from university staff on both the Japanese and Korean sides was well-established, and I rarely felt anxious throughout my study abroad period.
In addition to university staff, several student ambassadors were assigned to support the lives of international students, providing reassurance with daily consultations and procedures.
On my first day of study abroad, a coordinator picked me up at the local airport, and we traveled to the university by private car. After arriving, another university staff member showed me around the dormitory, and I registered for the electronic key to the dormitory entrance and my room. I was impressed that electronic keys, rather than physical keys, are commonly used in Korea.
After dropping off my luggage, I purchased essential items that I would need from that evening onwards. Specifically, this included bedding (pillows and blankets), a hairdryer, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, toothbrush, and toothpaste.
I did this shopping with a student ambassador and other international students who arrived on the same day.
We used public transportation from the bus stop on campus to Nampo-dong, the nearest commercial area, and were able to purchase all the necessary items for daily life.
Because we had a system in place to act as a group from the first day, I felt I was able to settle into life with peace of mind, even though I was unfamiliar with the area.

[Communication Environment]

Regarding the communication environment, free Wi-Fi was available in the city, on campus, in research labs, and in the dormitories, so there were no major problems in daily life. Therefore, I did not sign up for a new local carrier and continued to use the line I used in Japan.
On the other hand, even if you wish to sign up for a local carrier, a student ambassador is available to accompany you until the contract is completed, so I felt that there was little anxiety regarding language or procedural issues. Thus, I feel that a major characteristic of this program is that it goes beyond practical support and provides continuous support until life is on track.

[About Meals]

Meals mainly consist of using the on-campus cafeteria, off-campus restaurants and food stalls, convenience stores, and delivery services.
The on-campus cafeteria is self-service, where users select their food on a tray. It's easy to adjust portion sizes, and water is also self-service. While some dishes are seasoned to suit Japanese palates, others are quite spicy. However, I gradually got used to it during my stay and was able to eat without any problems.
To use the cafeteria, you select from the following meal plans in advance:

  • 2 meals a day, 5 days a week (100 meals total)
  • 2 meals a day, 7 days a week (160 meals total)
  • 3 meals a day, 7 days a week (220 meals total)

Due to rising food costs, some additional fees were added to the plan price, but the average cost per meal was approximately 400 yen.
It's important to note that the "○ meals per day" notation refers to the maximum number of meals you can use on that day, not an average. For example, with a 2-meal-per-day plan, even if you only use one meal on one day, you cannot use three meals on another day.
From my own experience, I found the "2 meals per day, 5 days a week" plan to be the most flexible.
If you're assigned to a research lab, mornings often coincide with seminar meeting times, meaning you might not be able to eat breakfast at the campus cafeteria.
Also, depending on the research lab, the cafeteria can be quite far, taking about 40 minutes round trip. Walking along the coast is interesting, but it can be physically demanding.
In the evenings, there are often opportunities to go out for drinks with lab members, international students, and local students outside of campus, or to use delivery services.Therefore, I felt that the 5-day-a-week plan, which is easier to combine with meals outside of campus, was less wasteful than the 7-day-a-week plan.
There are several convenience stores on campus; while they don't sell alcohol, daily necessities and snacks are available even late at night. Credit cards and WOWPASS are accepted, so I didn't experience any inconvenience in my daily life.

[Regarding interaction with students from other universities]

This program provided numerous opportunities for interaction with international students from other universities, and the university actively promoted international exchange.
The countries of origin of the international students we interacted with were diverse, including the United States, Russia, Greece, Denmark, South Korea, Taiwan, China, Malaysia, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and the Philippines. Daily interaction with students from different majors and cultural backgrounds provided opportunities to be exposed to diverse values.
Particularly memorable was the university-sponsored cultural experience trip. This program involved visiting culturally significant areas within South Korea with international students, student ambassadors, university staff, and bus guides. These trips lasted several days and naturally fostered deeper exchanges.
In addition, various opportunities for interaction were continuously provided, such as a welcome party for international students, a party for graduate students held in the graduate student building, the university's cultural festival, sports competitions, multiple cultural experience trips, a buddy program (where international students and Koreans were paired to experience Korean culture together), and a farewell party.
While building relationships through these officially arranged opportunities, I also went to various places with friends I made locally on days when I wasn't in the lab, and had countless different experiences.
Through these opportunities, I feel fortunate to have been in an environment where international students could build relationships through everyday interactions, rather than relying on official events.I participated in all the events, and I believe it was the right decision.

[Impressions of studying abroad and places visited]

Initially, I had an image of studying abroad as something fun, glamorous, and a chance to fully enjoy something out of the ordinary. However, my perception was completely overturned once I actually participated.
First, I keenly felt the difficulty of communication in an environment where Japanese wasn't spoken. Even with everyday matters, I often found myself unable to fully express my thoughts, confronting the inadequacy of my language skills. Regarding relationships, I had no existing connections whatsoever, and I had to proactively build them from scratch. Since all of this had to be done in a foreign language, it required far more energy than I had imagined. Also, in terms of daily life, I had to proactively ask those around me about things I didn't understand, and managing currency and expenses, among other things, made daily life itself a demanding environment.
On the other hand, it was precisely because of such an environment that I gained the realization that I could change the situation as much as I wanted depending on my own actions. Nothing progresses if you're passive; relationships and experiences expand only through your own initiative. This is a feeling I couldn't have gained simply by staying in Japan.

Regarding South Korea as a destination, before traveling, I felt some anxiety about aspects like K-pop, beauty, and food culture, as well as the external impression I had from media reports. However, in reality, I rarely encountered situations that warranted such concerns. I was impressed by how polite and kind many people were. In fact, I was more often surprised by the gap between my preconceived notions and reality.Through this experience, my perception of studying abroad changed; I now understand it not merely as a fun experience, but as an environment where my abilities and behavioral characteristics are tested. At the same time, I strongly realized the importance of actually going to the location and seeing things with my own eyes.

[How my perspective changed after participating]

Before studying abroad, I had no experience interacting with foreigners, and my communication in foreign languages was limited. Therefore, I remember feeling a certain psychological distance from the cross-cultural environment.
However, during my time abroad, interacting with students of different nationalities and native languages in both academic and daily life using English and Korean, I realized that "the willingness to communicate" is more important than "speaking perfectly" in communication.
As a result, my resistance to using foreign languages was greatly reduced, and now I can confidently communicate in both English and Korean on a daily basis. Furthermore, even in Japan, my behavior has changed; for example, I've started offering help to foreign visitors who seem to be in trouble. I've even made friends with foreigners by talking to them in bars. These actions and changes would never have happened before my study abroad experience.
Through this study abroad program, my perception changed to one where I realized that a different cultural environment isn't something special, but something that becomes familiar when you actively engage with it.


[Thank you to all]photos.png

A line from the lyrics of "Time of Our Life" by the hugely popular band DAY6, which was playing in various places in Korea:
"지금 이 순간이 다시 넘겨볼 수 있는 한 페이지가 될 수 있게"
English translation: May this moment become a page that can be turned again.
I was able to spend my study abroad experience in such a way that it became a youthful and memorable time.
I am grateful to everyone who was involved.
감사합니다

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