SLU-Madrid Students Explore Seoul Through Summer Study at Sogang University
Nine Saint Louis University-Madrid students spent part of their summer studying at Sogang University in Seoul, South Korea, gaining academic perspectives, exploring Korean culture and connecting with students from around the world.
The four-week intensive program was mainly focused on Korean language and culture, although some students were also enrolled in courses in other areas. Sogang University, founded by the Society of Jesus in 1960, is the only Jesuit institution in South Korea and is located in the heart of Seoul.
For SLU-Madrid students, the program offered an opportunity to experience another Jesuit university while approaching their studies from a South Korean perspective.
"It was fun to study abroad coming from SLU-Madrid since we got to relive that initial excitement of living somewhere new but, since we’re going into our junior year, with some more experience now on living on our own," said Flavia Leu, a political science and communications major from Romania. "It was also super cool to take classes at Sogang from a different perspective and learn things from a South Korean point of view."
Beyond the classroom, students experienced Seoul and Korean culture through activities organized by Sogang.
"Our favorite experience at Sogang has been the field trips organized by the university," said Eva Sofia Palmer, a political science and communications major from Houston. "They took us to a Korean baseball game, sightseeing, Korean BBQ and many more fun activities."
The program also gave students the chance to develop a deeper connection with Seoul while building an international community. For some participants, the experience was their first time traveling outside Europe and opened the door to new possibilities for the future.
The time abroad has already influenced some students' academic and professional goals.
"This experience has changed our professional and academic goals by making some of us consider living in Seoul or other cities in Asia in the future," said Maria Ignacia Cadenas, a communications and theology major from Miami. "For one of us, it was the first time on a long-haul flight traveling outside of Europe, so this trip has also opened our horizons and opened doors to future possibilities."
Cadenas said the experience also made the students interested in pursuing additional study abroad programs after returning to Madrid.
The partnership with Sogang speaks to the international nature of an SLU-Madrid education, allowing students to learn across cultures and explore possibilities beyond Europe and the U.S.