Whether appreciating the upbeat rhythm and pace of life in the modern cities or the historical beauty of one of the globe's most mountainous regions, Korea promises to inspire and broaden your horizons. Korea is also a perfect destination to take a wide variety of courses in English. Beyond the classroom, you can delve into the rich cultural heritage through activities like traditional art, K-pop dance, and temple stays, or gain firsthand insights into its global industries.
Languages Spoken:
Korean
Education System
HIGHER EDUCATION OVERVIEW
Higher education in South Korea is governed by the Ministry of Education. Korean students have a choice of junior colleges, teacher colleges, open universities (technical or vocational fields), four-year colleges, universities and graduate schools. Admission is highly competitive and determined by grades and an entrance examination score. Preparation for college entrance exams is extremely demanding. In addition to a full week of classroom instruction, Korean high school students often attend hagwons (private educational institutions; cram schools) for different subjects. A high school student in Seoul usually begins school at 7:30 a.m. and finishes at 5 p.m. Some high school students remain at school for "self-study" until as late as 10 p.m. to prepare for the college entrance examination.
STUDYING IN SOUTH KOREA
Classroom Culture
The social aspect of university life for Korean students is important, and students enjoy socializing with peers on campus when they are not attending class. Though schoolwork is rigorous in Korea, Korean students generally agree that the most difficult part about university life is passing the entrance examinations.
Registration
Course registration will generally not happen until you arrive on campus. Check with your host coordinator for procedures for registering for classes at your host institution.
Course Load
Students generally take three to five courses per semester, spending nine to 12 hours in class on average. Terms last 16 weeks.
Exams & Grading
Students are generally required to take midterm and final examinations. Other tests, presentations, research papers and projects may also be expected of students. A student’s performance in a course is determined by the results of examinations, class attendance and participation of the student. Student performance is usually graded on a 100-point scale.
Transcripts
Transcripts will be sent to ISEP Global a few weeks following the end of term. Be sure to check with your host coordinator to ensure all is completed to allow for timely release of your transcript. Detailed information can also be found on your ISEP Acceptance Package.
Visa and Residency
Visa regulations can change at any time and without notice. Students should always consult their local Consulate or Embassy to verify the most up to date visa information. Visa requirements can vary depending on the country your passport is issued in.
Click here for ISEP's Application Guide for the South Korea Student Visa. Please carefully review this document in its entirety before beginning the visa application process!
Culture
COMMUNICATION STYLE
Koreans bow to one another when greeting and departing. Greetings are generally considered most important during the first meeting. Subsequent meetings usually involve more of a slow, polite nod. With foreigners, a handshake and small bow is acceptable.
Hierarchy is important in Korean culture. It is important to be aware of the seniors within the group. Different titles are assigned to each member within a group to emphasize their order of seniority and role within the group.
SOCIAL STRUCTURE AND FAMILY
Family relationships are an important aspect to Korean life. Confucian beliefs influence family roles and relationships between people and government, men and women, and seniors and youth. Parents place great importance on teaching children to fulfill family duties and to respect those older than them.
FOOD
Rice is a staple dish at all Korean meals and it is accompanied by a variety of side dishes. Korean cuisine is famous for its variety and abundance of colorful side dishes. Popular dishes include bean-paste soup, kimchi (pickled cabbage) and beef or fish with steamed and seasoned vegetables. Seasonings such as soy sauce, soybean paste, red pepper paste, ginger root, sesame oil and sesame seeds are also significant to Korean food. Generally, food is not eaten in courses, but served all at once and eaten together.
Making sure that one’s guest has enough food to eat is important within Korean society. It is also common to ask if one has eaten as a form of greeting. However, this does not mean that you must eat everything you are offered. It is perfectly acceptable to refuse food if ever offered something that you are unable to eat. As long as you are polite, your Korean host should understand.
DINING OUT
In Korea, be prepared to be either the host or the guest when dining out. The concept of paying only for one’s own meal isn’t often practiced in Korean society. During birthday celebrations the one celebrating their birthday hosts and covers the bill.
ETIQUETTE
- Showing the bottom of one’s shoe or putting one’s feet on furniture is disrespectful
- Signing documents with red ink is reserved for the deceased
- Do not plant chopsticks vertically into a bowl of rice – this is another custom for the deceased
- Remove shoes before entering a home or place of worship
DISPOSING OF WASTE
South Korea has a specific and complex system of trash separation that can be confusing to newcomers. Please see the following websites for information on how to properly dispose of garbage while in South Korea.
Garbage Disposal & Recycling
How to Appropriately Throw Away Trash in Korea
How to Take Out Trash in Korea
LGBTQIA+
It is recommended that LGBTQIA+ students conduct personal research on their host country before departing for their program. Students should keep in mind that social attitudes and acceptance may vary based on a number of factors including region, age, and the local political climate. You can find some resources on our Identity Abroad page. If you would like to be connected with your host coordinator or an alumni who identifies as LGBTQIA+ before your departure, please contact your Student Services Officer.
Daily Life
COMMUNICATION STYLE
Koreans bow to one another when greeting and departing. Greetings are generally considered most important during the first meeting. Subsequent meetings usually involve more of a slow, polite nod. With foreigners, a handshake and small bow is acceptable.
Hierarchy is important in Korean culture. It is important to be aware of the seniors within the group. Different titles are assigned to each member within a group to emphasize their order of seniority and role within the group.
SOCIAL STRUCTURE AND FAMILY
Family relationships are an important aspect to Korean life. Confucian beliefs influence family roles and relationships between people and government, men and women, and seniors and youth. Parents place great importance on teaching children to fulfill family duties and to respect those older than them.
FOOD
Rice is a staple dish at all Korean meals and it is accompanied by a variety of side dishes. Korean cuisine is famous for its variety and abundance of colorful side dishes. Popular dishes include bean-paste soup, kimchi (pickled cabbage) and beef or fish with steamed and seasoned vegetables. Seasonings such as soy sauce, soybean paste, red pepper paste, ginger root, sesame oil and sesame seeds are also significant to Korean food. Generally, food is not eaten in courses, but served all at once and eaten together.
Making sure that one’s guest has enough food to eat is important within Korean society. It is also common to ask if one has eaten as a form of greeting. However, this does not mean that you must eat everything you are offered. It is perfectly acceptable to refuse food if ever offered something that you are unable to eat. As long as you are polite, your Korean host should understand.
DINING OUT
In Korea, be prepared to be either the host or the guest when dining out. The concept of paying only for one’s own meal isn’t often practiced in Korean society. During birthday celebrations the one celebrating their birthday hosts and covers the bill.
ETIQUETTE
- Showing the bottom of one’s shoe or putting one’s feet on furniture is disrespectful
- Signing documents with red ink is reserved for the deceased
- Do not plant chopsticks vertically into a bowl of rice – this is another custom for the deceased
- Remove shoes before entering a home or place of worship
DISPOSING OF WASTE
South Korea has a specific and complex system of trash separation that can be confusing to newcomers. Please see the following websites for information on how to properly dispose of garbage while in South Korea.
Garbage Disposal & Recycling
How to Appropriately Throw Away Trash in Korea
How to Take Out Trash in Korea
LGBTQIA+
It is recommended that LGBTQIA+ students conduct personal research on their host country before departing for their program. Students should keep in mind that social attitudes and acceptance may vary based on a number of factors including region, age, and the local political climate. You can find some resources on our Identity Abroad page. If you would like to be connected with your host coordinator or an alumni who identifies as LGBTQIA+ before your departure, please contact your Student Services Officer.
Health and Safety
Your health and safety is our number one priority. Please read and reference our Guides and Tips section for general information regarding health and safety abroad.
Detailed information about South Korea can be found here. Please pay special attention to the Safety and Security, Local Laws and Special Circumstances and Health sections. In particular, please note that if/when you go to a doctor or hospital in South Korea, you MUST bring some form of official identification (such as your Korean Residence Card, home country driver's license or state ID, or your passport).
Note: Information sourced on this page is provided by the U.S. Department of State and the CDC. Non-U.S. nationals should disregard the Embassies and Consulates and Entry, Exit and Visa Requirements sections.
Prescription Medication
If you are planning to bring your prescription or over-the-counter medicine on your trip, you need to make sure your medicine is travel-ready. General information about traveling with medication can be found here.
Certain prescription drugs are considered controlled substances in South Korea and are subject to import permit requirements established by the Korean Food and Drug Administration and the Korean Customs Service.
The following classes of drugs are restricted even with a valid prescription:
• Stimulants (Amphetamine sulfate, Dextroamphetamine, Lisdexamfetamine, Dexamphetamine, Methylphenidate etc.)
• Opiates (hydrocodone, oxycodone, codine, etc.)
• Benzodiazepines (Xanax, Valium, Klonopin, etc.)
If you are prescribed any of the above classes of drugs and plan to bring your medication with you to South Korea, please download and carefully review all documents found in the Guidelines on Permit to Bring in Narcotics to Korea folder (please note this link will download a .zip file). It is required that you submit all required forms and supplemental documentation via email to the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) at least 10 days prior to departure. Additional information can be found on the MFDS website.
For all prescription medication:
• Up to six bottles of medication (or equivalent to a 3-month/90-day supply) will be permitted into Korea, provided they are for personal use only
Visitors must bring in their carry-on luggage:
• All prescription medication in the original packaging
• The original prescription and a statement from your doctor certifying the medications are for personal use
• A letter from your doctor specifying the medical condition treated by your medication
• Import permit documentation, if required
Health Declaration:
Starting September 1, 2024, the Republic of Korea (ROK) government has mandated that travelers who have visited, stayed, or transited through certain regions, including certain U.S. States (California, Colorado, Michigan, Minnesota, Pennsylvania and Washington), must submit a Q-CODE or health declaration form upon entering South Korea. There is an additional list of locations where a Q-CODE or health declaration form must be submitted if the traveler is exhibiting symptoms. A fine of 10,000,000 KRW will be levied to travelers coming to South Korea from these areas who do not comply with reporting their health status. For more information, please see the instructions along with a full list of affected locations here.
Currency
MONEY MATTERS
South Korea's monetary unit is the won. Currency is issued in 1,000, 5,000 and 10,000, 50,000 notes, and 10, 50, 100 and 500 coins. Currency can be exchanged at airports and banks. It is a good idea to bring some won with you for incidental expenses until you can get to a bank where exchange rates are more favorable than at the airport. Most hotels, restaurants and retail outlets in Seoul accept credit cards. In smaller, traditional markets and street vendors can be more difficult to use a credit card. While traveling, carrying adequate amounts of cash is advised.
It is smart to keep track of exchange rates between the won and your home currency.
ATM
Banks, convenience stores and other sites have ATMs. Because some ATM transactions require an account with a Korean bank, they may not be convenient with international credit cards.
AVERAGE PRICE OF DAILY ITEMS
Water (0.5 L): 600 won
Apple: 1,200 won
Bagel: 3,000 - 7,000 won
Starbucks coffee: 5,000 - 7,000 won
McDonald's Big Mac meal: 8,800 won
Movie: 14,000 - 25,000 won
Book: 13,000 won
Coin Noraebang (Karaoke): 500 won per song
Soda: 2,000 won
Subway / Bus Fare: 1,400 - 1,500 won
Sources of Information
Plenty of research is key to getting the most out of your experience, but check out these links for all things Korea!
USEFUL WEBSITES
The Korea Times
The Korea Herald
Lonely Planet South Korea
Yonhap News Agency
Korea.net: Gateway to Korea
RECOMMENDED READING
*All links below will take you to the Amazon.com website for content and purchasing information.
GUIDES
THE ADVENTURER'S GUIDE TO KOREA: Language, Culture, Etiquette
SOUTH KOREA 101: The Culture, Etiquette, Rules and Customs
Korea - Culture Smart!: The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture
LITERATURE
Han, Kang. Human Acts
Cho, Nam-joo. Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982
Lee, Min Jin. Pachinko
CULTURE, HISTORY, AND POLITICS
The Korean Mind: Understanding Contemporary Korean Culture
Korea: A History
History of Korea: A Captivating Guide to Korean History