South Korea

WHY STUDY PEACE AND CULTURE IN SOUTH KOREA?

Begin your journey through South Korea’s past and present in Seoul, a leading and modern global city. You will visit places of great historical importance, such as the 14th-century royal palaces of the Joseon Dynasty, then deepen your understanding of the country’s split with North Korea through an excursion to the DMZ. Hands-on peacebuilding and human rights workshops will broaden your understanding of conflict analysis and introduce skills for peace advocacy in any community.  

Immerse yourself in South Korea’s contemporary culture, learning some new moves during a K-pop dance class in the breakdancing capital of the world. Travel to diverse regions to gain new perspectives on typical life in South Korea as you continue to explore topics of peace and human rights.

Interact with Korean youth to discuss peace on the peninsula and learn about their daily lives and perspectives, from K-culture to Reunification. Engage with local activists and develop peace sensitivity while sharing your thoughts with your peers and local students.  

Take basic Korean language classes while continuing to immerse yourself in contemporary life; then go from modern to ancient as you spend the night in a Buddhist temple to learn about religious traditions and the art of meditation from Buddhist monks. 

Experience day-to-day life in Korea, where you’ll have the unique opportunity to live with a homestay family. This immersive 9-day experience is unparalleled for developing your language skills, learning more about life from a local family perspective, and trying out different flavor combinations during dinner, which can be something of a feast. You’ll also complete a community service project alongside Korean students.  

Return to Seoul to visit cultural sites and reflect on your journey with your group.

At the conclusion of this program, each participant will earn a community service certificate noting the number of hours of community service completed.

LEARN BY DOING

The Experiment’s programs are designed to build skills that will help you succeed. In South Korea, you will learn:

Technical Skills

• Korean language
• Community service certificate  

Interpersonal Skills

• Intercultural communication
• Problem-solving
• Adaptability
• Relationship-building  

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

• Temperatures and humidity can be high in South Korea during the summer.
• Come prepared with clothing that is modest and culturally appropriate yet will keep you cool, i.e., during the overnight stay in a Buddhist temple.
• Explore urban life by foot (lots of walking!).
• Meat and fish are staples in South Korean cuisine; students following a vegan diet need to be aware that most food is cooked in meat or fish broth. Buddhist temple food is usually vegan/vegetarian.
• Access to the internet is limited and internet speeds and connectivity vary.
• South Korea is a conservative country regarding LGBTQ+ issues. We encourage students to approach the program staff for support on gender and sexuality questions and concerns.
• The diverse personal and social identities of participants may, in part, shape their experience abroad. In-country partners will discuss cultural norms and the local context during orientation. Please read our approach to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for further information. All students will have a safe space within the program spaces and with the local staff and group leaders.
• The Experiment program structure is rooted in experiential learning and cohort-based learning. The participant group experience is a major source of learning for Experimenters and is facilitated by trained Experiment group leaders.