South Korea

Come to South Korea to learn about its ancient heritage and tradition and see the new Korea, the "Asian Tiger" that is now a major player in the global community. Learn about a culture as different from US culture, as East is from West.

A highlight of your stay in South Korea will undoubtedly be the time you spend with your host family—immersed in a culture and way of life both ancient and beautiful. Family is the center of the highly traditional Korean society. As you get to know your host family, you will discover that members are bound by a strong sense of duty and obligation. While women are active in the society, their status is secondary to fathers and sons. Also, Koreans greatly respect their ancestors and their elders.

Almost three-fourths of South Koreans live in cities. If you are placed in one of those cities, you will probably live in a brick house or high-rise apartment building. If you live with a family in a more rural area, you may live in a traditional house with paper doors and windows. Koreans, like many of their Asian neighbors, do not wear shoes in the house.

Meals are a cultural adventure, and you will enjoy learning not only what Koreans eat but how. At meals, each person is served individual bowls of rice and soup, while other dishes are placed in the center of the table to share.

Academic Program

Begin your year in Korea with a four- or five-day arrival orientation that will include survival Korean language, Korean culture and customs, and cultural excursions to palaces and historical sites. As a student in Korea, you will attend a local Korean school and live with a Korean host family.

During your stay in Korea, you may choose to take part in an optional cultural trip. These may include two- or three-day trips to a beach or historical cities such as Kyoungju and Seorak.

Students on the year program to Korea must be born between October 1, 1990 and February 27, 1994.

Summer Program

Discover Korea
On this six-week program you’ll be immersed in Korea’s daily and family life—giving you the learning opportunity of a lifetime. YFU will take you and other exchange students on a three-day cultural excursion during your orientation, a trip that’s included in your program tuition.

Your summer in Korea includes many short outdoor trips such as visits to old Royal palaces, the Seoul Tower or Namsan Hanok Village, with a grand view of Seoul, and a Korean Folk Village recreating the lifestyle of several centuries ago. In addition, you will walk through famous market places, tour Suwon Hwaseong Fortress with its well-preserved architecture of the Joseon dynasty from 1794.  Through these cultural excursions, you will find yourself surrounded by Korean culture and landscape, as well as old and modern Korean daily life.

Since schools are in session during your stay but it is during finals, you may attend several days a week, if the school gives permission, allowing you to try your new language skills and make new friends.

Programs, Departures, and Costs

Online Resources

To learn more about Korea, we recommend:

• E-mail YFU Alumni from the Alumni Referral List with your questions
• Visit your local library to find reference books, travel guides and essays, language dictionaries, and many more country resources 
• Use an internet search engine to find informative web sites 
• Embassy of Korea in Washington, DC web site
• Korea National Tourism Organization web site
• Korea Info Gate web site

"The highlight of your stay in South Korea will be the immersion in a culture and way of life both ancient and beautiful."

All YFU Programs are subject to change or cancellation without prior notice.
Last Updated: Tuesday, October 7, 2008