My Study Abroad Immersion Trip to South Korea
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In the summer of 2009, I packed my bags for something totally new: a study abroad immersion program in South Korea.
Led by my UW-Milwaukee professor, Dr. Wooseob Jeong, and my advisor, Jennifer Hawkins, I joined a small group of students for what would turn into a whirlwind adventure of temples, karaoke, and way too much kimchi.
Oh—and just to make it extra exciting? We tacked on a weekend cruise to Japan.
Here’s how it all unfolded.
Day 1: Leaving O’Hare
The journey began at O’Hare with our little group: me, Kory, Ben, Jan, Michael, Jennifer, and Wooseob. I scribbled in my journal about airport security being “Code Orange” and joked about O’Hare offering space shuttle flights with its “Star Alliance: the way Earth connects” slogan.
The long-haul flight was its own experience: steak for dinner (surprisingly decent), questionable eggs for breakfast, and restless legs thanks to too much sitting. I kept telling myself to “go with the flow”—but let’s be honest, I’m more of an overprepare-for-everything kind of traveler.
Day 2: First Impressions of Korea
After landing in Seoul, we zipped through security where they checked our body temperatures with scanners—something I’d never seen before. I finally got my first real passport stamp (looking at you, Switzerland and France 👀).
From there, it was sushi and kimchi at the train station before a three-hour ride to Busan. Out the window? Rice paddies, small towns, and tiny cars that made even our maintenance trucks back home look oversized.
At Dongju College, we toured classrooms, peeked in on students practicing hair styling and massage techniques, and quickly learned that instead of saying “cheese” in photos, Koreans say “kimchi.” Spoiler: kimchi came with just about every single meal, and I had a complicated relationship with it.
That night we hit downtown Busan where I swear I ate ten meals at ten different restaurants. I never seemed to feel “full,” but I wasn’t complaining.
Day 3: Taejongdae Park & Exploring Busan
Breakfast was…a spread: dried squid, ham, tofu, soup, rice, seaweed, red beans, and (of course) kimchi. Then we hopped on the Busan City Bus Tour.
Our first stop: Taejongdae Park, a gorgeous cliffside park overlooking the sea. The uphill walk was long but worth it. From there, things got chaotic when we got off at the wrong bus stop—cue wandering, lunch, and regrouping.
We ended up exploring PIFF Square, famous for the Busan International Film Festival. Markets, food stalls, even a few questionable pet shops that smelled way too bad to enter.
By evening, we made our way to Haeundae Beach. Sounds idyllic, right? Until dinner turned into a surprise raw-fish experience at a market. Let’s just say it was…chewy. Karaoke afterward more than made up for it though—I don’t think I’ve laughed so hard in years.
Day 4: Haeinsa Temple
A three-hour drive brought us to Haeinsa Temple, one of the most important Buddhist monasteries in Korea. The hike uphill was dotted with stone piles stacked as wishes. Monks still live here, and it’s also home to the Tripitaka Koreana—over 80,000 carved wooden printing blocks of Buddhist scriptures.
It blew my mind that while Europe was still hand-copying texts, Korea already had this printing technology.
Lunch that day? Pizza Hut. With sangria on tap. No regrets.
Day 5: Andong & Hahoe Village
Andong is called the “capital of Korean spirit,” and it lived up to its name. We explored Dosan Seowon, a Confucian academy tucked in the hills, and later wandered Hahoe Village, a traditional village that survived the Korean War untouched. People still live there, and their main livelihood is tourism.
We sipped chilled bean soup (not my favorite, but I tried!) and admired lotus ponds planted by scholars centuries ago.
Read about my weekend trip (Days 6-9) to Japan!
Day 10: Gyeongju – Bulguksa Temple & Heavenly Horse Tomb
We started in Gyeongju, often called Korea’s “museum without walls.” At the Bulguksa Temple, we explored the famous Dabotap and Seokgatap stone pagodas, then headed to the Bulguksa Museum to see original artifacts.
Nearby, grassy mounds revealed themselves as ancient tombs. The most famous, the Heavenly Horse Tomb, contained artifacts from the Silla Dynasty. We also hiked to a mountainside grotto housing a Buddha statue overlooking the East Sea—built centuries ago as protection against invasions and natural disasters.
Day 11: Geoje Island – POW Camp & Shipbuilding
We took a ferry to Geoje Island to visit the Korean War POW Camp Museum, which told powerful stories about captured soldiers during the 1950s conflict.
Next was the Okpo Shipyard, part of Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering, one of the largest shipbuilders in the world. The sheer size of the operation was staggering—like a small city with schools, hospitals, and housing for workers.
That night in Busan, we had some free time, and my friends and I indulged in some local beauty culture: getting eyelash extensions for the first time!
Day 12: Daegu – University Visits
We traveled inland to Daegu, a city known for its sweltering summer heat. At Kyungbuk and Keimyung Universities, we sat in on student presentations about information law and copyright. Lunch and dinner with students and professors rounded out the day, giving us a taste of Korean hospitality.
Day 13: Jeonju
In Jeonju, we toured Jeonbuk University before being invited to a professor’s countryside home. That evening turned into a full-on backyard barbecue “festival” with Korean wine, endless food, and laughter. It was one of the most personal, heartwarming experiences of the trip.
Day 14: Dinner with the Dongju President
Back in Busan, we enjoyed dinner with the president of Dongju College. Afterwards, students treated us to food, drinks, and karaoke—a perfect blend of formality and fun.
Day 15: Ulsan – Hyundai Factory
We visited Haedong Yonggungsa Temple, perched dramatically on the seaside, before heading to Ulsan for a tour of the Hyundai-Kia factory. Seeing how much of South Korea’s auto industry is concentrated in one place was eye-opening.
Day 16: Seoul Arrival
We wrapped up our time in Busan and took a train north to Seoul, settling into the Metro Hotel in Myeongdong. Seoul’s mix of skyscrapers, shopping streets, and temples immediately felt different—faster, bigger, and more international.
That day we visited the Seoul Museum of History and wandered through Insadong, known for its art galleries, tea houses, and antique shops.
Day 17: DMZ Tour
A powerful day trip from Seoul took us to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). Highlights included the Bridge of Freedom, Mt. Dora Observatory, and the Third Tunnel, which North Korea dug as a planned invasion route.
Standing at Dorasan Station—the last South Korean train station before the North—was both eerie and hopeful.
Day 18: Korean Folk Village
We visited the Korean Folk Village in Suwon, a living museum showcasing traditional homes, performances, and crafts. It reminded me of Old World Wisconsin back home, complete with farmer’s music, horse acrobatics, and a reenacted wedding ceremony.
Day 19–22: University & Library Visits
The academic portion of our immersion program picked up again with visits to:
Seoul National University – home to millions of volumes and one of Korea’s most prestigious schools.
Yonsei University & the National Assembly – where we learned about Korea’s political system and Dokdo island disputes.
Korean Supreme Court Library – complete with rooftop gardens.
National Library of Korea – freshly rebranded as the “Dibrary,” focusing on digital archives and innovation.
We also attended a taekwondo demonstration and went late-night shopping at Dongdaemun Market, which stays open until 5 a.m.
Day 23: Farewell to Seoul
On our final day, we said goodbye to Seoul with one last stroll through Myeongdong, packed up our souvenirs (including the most random: a Korean manicure), and boarded our flight home.
After three weeks, two countries, countless temples, new friends, and more kimchi than I thought possible, I returned home with a full camera roll and even fuller memories.
See also:
- One Day in Kyoto Itinerary
- Visiting Higashi Honganji Temple in Kyoto: What to Know Before You Go
- Visiting Heian Shrine in Kyoto: What to Know Before You Go
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