Saturday, April 20, 2013

A Guide to Studying in Korea II

Somehow, I believe there are still many new things to see and experience even if we have stayed in a country for quite some time. This is now my fourth year in Korea and I have yet to visit the little Korean island called Jeju (제주도), a little less than an hour ride by plane from Daegu.

Hangang River Cruise in Seoul
Bulguksa Temple in Gyeongju
I have seen many friends graduating one after another and it is always a bitter sweet moment. I am happy to see them graduating but I do not know what is next for me after my graduation.

There is so many possibilities and frankly, I am quite reluctant to make a firm decision on what's next after the hard mortar board placed over my head. One more year and I'm taking it one step at a time.

**

These days, Korea attracts a lot of students around the world for its decent and affordable education. A small minority of them are sponsored by the Korean government, and the rest are self paying students (mostly from the mainland China). Malaysia, as far as I know, is the only country sending students to Korea under the Public Service Department (JPA) or the MARA scholarships.


In my case, I am the Korean government scholar and when I first arrived to Korea, I was pretty clueless because I was never a fan of Korean dramas or songs. I was literally "lost" in Korea for a couple of weeks because I can't speak Korean, no buddy, couldn't use my laptop and I did not meet any foreigners (I was wrong though, after a few weeks, I met four helpful Malaysians) living in my university.   

The moral of the story- Some basic Korean language proficiency does helps but what's more important is your sense of adventure, never be afraid to try new things.

Living Cost

This is very subjective and it varies from city to city. In Seoul, a normal meal at the university cafeteria will be around 4000 Won (1200 Won for a roll of Kimbap but eating Kimbap everyday is just too much). In Daegu, it ranges from 2500 Won (A rarity these days unless at the cafeteria) to 4000 Won.


Nevertheless, living in the dormitory is much better because some dormitories (like mine) provide 3 complete meals a day at a lower cost (You have to pay for it in advance and the fee will be already included in the dormitory housing fee).

The Fee for the dormitory (at Kyungpook National University) is around 1,100,000 Won (or approximately 1,000 USD) per semester and this includes the food. Staying outside will cost you around 250,000 Won per month (excluding food) in Daegu but it can be more costly in Seoul. 

Most of the time, the 집주인 (landlord) will ask for a deposit (at least 1,000,000 Won but it is refundable at the end of the contract) as a guarantee.


For Malaysians, treat 1,000 Won as RM 1. This makes life easier if we do not convert the currency. OMG! One watermelon for 60 Ringgit (20,000 Won)? This is crazy! Well, some fruits in Korea can be very expensive.

The strawberries (spring), the persimmons (fall) and the sweet yellowish honeydew (summer) are very cheap depending on the seasons.

Housing: 150,000 Won to 300,000 Won per month
Food: +-200,000 Won 
Telephone bill: 15,000 Won (a normal phone) to 80,000 Won+ (smartphone)

Lifestyle/Fashion

Koreans generally love coffees. Hence, coffee shops are found all over the places. A minute walk from my dormitory, I can find at least 6 cafes. Although, I am not very fond of coffees, I wouldn't mind if people were to treat me with Starbucks coffee- I love it.

However, I would always order Hot Chocolate or Blueberry smoothie if I am with my friends. In a normal cafe, it will be around 3000 to 4000 Won. Yummy.



During exam weeks, it is also not uncommon to see students staying the whole day in the cafe revising. I find most Koreans especially those living in Seoul are very fashionable. Somehow most Asian clothing fit them perfectly.

Nevertheless, most overseas brands are very expensive because it is usually only one distributor monopolizing the business. ZARA, Guess and GAP are mark-up around 20-30% more than the usual price.

Sometimes, I have to wait for sales to afford one. 

However, you can get cheaper ones if you are to shop at hypermarkets (like E-Mart, Homeplus). Jeans is around 20 USD+ and shirts are affordable (maybe around 15 USD each?). You wouldn't be able find such price if you are to shop at Uniqlo (A pair of jeans is around 50 dollars+).

If you can, do not buy any winter clothing from Malaysia (unless if you are coming during winter) because you can get one in Korea similar in price, more variety and of course, better looking. :)


If can, buy the "Heattech" clothing by Uniqlo or equivalent (I am using one from Giordano). It does keep you a little warm as long as it is snugged tightly (fit) around your body. On the other hand, a jacket will be fine during spring and autumn. For first timer to a four season country, adjusting to the temperature can be a bit problematic so bring a thick jacket or sweater if you couldn't bear with the cold.


My city, Daegu, is the third largest city in Korea. There are many places to enjoy and experience the culture, but being a student, like everyone, I have to watch over my spending. Korea has many cheap places to play sports (ex baseball), snooker, karaoke (노래방), and drinking.

Karaoke or Norabang is only around 20,000 Won for 2 hours (depending on the hours) but you can get a smaller room for 1,000 Won per 4 songs. Cheap huh? Besides Korean and English songs, there are plenty of Filipino (very old songs according to my Filipino friend), Vietnamese, Chinese and Indonesian (old songs too) songs available too.

Cinemas are everywhere. A ticket here is around 7 dollars which is almost double than to Malaysia. (TIPS: If you purchase a ticket for the first screening of the day, there is a discount, a ticket costs only 5,000 Won/less than 5 dollars, but you have to wake up early to watch the maybe 9 am movie!). I did that only once though (because of Milla Jovovich- the sexay Resident Evil zombie slayer. hehe).

Transportation


One word - Awesome! In cities like Seoul, Daegu and Busan, public transportation there are very efficient, convenient and fast. Understandably, public transportation to places located at the outskirts are hard to find but overall, good. If you are staying in Korea (eg Seoul) for a week plus, it's better to use the transportation card (Seoul T-Money: 3,000 Won).     

Studies

Korean language is (depending on people, some find learning Korean easy in the beginning but in my case) difficult when you start but once you have mastered level 2, learning level 3 is surprisingly easier. I went out with many friends even though we can converse in only level 2 Korean.

In Seoul, it is more common to find more Japanese students at the language institutes than other nationalities but in Daegu, the majority of the students are from China.


Level 1 is about the Korean characters and very basic conversations. Level 2, 3 and 4 are all about commonly used grammar and vocabulary. Level 5 and 6 delve into more serious topics like opinions on politics, etc hence, expanding your vocabulary.

Frankly speaking, science subjects during the first year will be very difficult no matter which level you are in. My first year was tough because all scientific terms, books, lectures are all in Korean. And I did not learn any scientific terms (not even one) in Korean during my time at the language institute. I was starting all over again from scratch.



Time passes, and from second year onwards, English books are widely used. Koreans still use translated books (depending on the professor's permission) but most exams are in English. Alright... I chose classes that give English exams paper! Life was easier from then on... 3.77... then to almost 4... You just need to work a little harder and smarter than the Koreans. Nothing is that simple lah.


Depending on the professors, you are allowed to use electronic dictionary to translate the Korean terms during the classes or examinations. Some scientific terms cannot be translated by the dictionary. :( My phone's dictionary perform the same task in translating but the only difference is that you are not allowed to bring your phone into the exam hall.  

Vision Korea 2012
Teammates

I have almost fulfilled the prerequisites to graduate from my major. Hence, I am now trying to minor in Business Admin. To minor in a particular field of study at my university, you need to complete more than 22 credit hours. I am not sure whether the same applies to other universities in Korea.

Internet is super fast in Korea. Streaming movies, downloading, etc are a breeze but there are many sites that are censored by the Korean Government. Anything to do with pro North Korea is censored. Try searching for "North Korea official website" if you are in Korea and you will know why when you click on that North Korean homepage.


The best part of your life begins during language institute (lots of field trips, free time), drops drastically during your first year, and improve as time passes. I believe as long as you have the perseverance, never give up easily and be optimistic in life, everything will be fine.

Scholarship

Scholarships are not easy to get in Korea. It is like a hit or miss, either you get it or not. A few Koreans I know work as tutors, waitress and even as convenient store employee. Some Koreans too work as staffs in their university department offices to pay for their education.


To obtain a scholarship from any university, you need to have good results. According to my university's scholarship guide, you need to be the top 7% of all international students to receive an 80% (80 percent deduction from your tuition fees) scholarship for the following semester (Top 30% only entitled a 20% scholarship).

My university's link (scholarship, admission info, application, etc): Click here

Study in Korea (Korean Government Scholarship, etc): Click here

Tip: If you love writing, try to apply to be a reporter at your university's English magazine. You might receive an additional 75% scholarship. If your academic results are good too, you need not pay any tuition fees.

My studies are already sponsored by the government so I am not entitled for the 75% scholarship but this is a good way to get free education in Korea for students without any scholarship.    


The Korean government has strict regulations on working part-time for the foreign students and since I haven't work part time before, I cannot comment on this. For some Malaysian students sponsored by the Malaysian government, a handful of them are doing the "Halal" Tour (a tour catering for Malaysian Muslims to Korea, a niche market). All I can say is that they are earning huge sum of money from it.

It is very easy to succumb to the temptation of getting easy money, but as a student, I believe that if you can juggle between both work and your academic obligations, then, go for it, as long as it is legal and within the boundaries of law.

If you want to work but is not so fortunate to get a job, try to apply for part time job at your university's lab, department, etc. The minimum hourly wage is 4,860 Won per hour. (However, if you are working at some restaurants, you might be paid less. Sadly, some employers do not follow the government's directive.)

Weather

Spring is cool and refreshing and if you are allergic to pollen, it can be a big inconvenience. Summer is hot and humid (very similar to Malaysia but Daegu is hotter than Malaysia during summer) and yes, we have typhoon in Korea (occurring almost every summer). Autumn is similar to spring. In between seasons, it will rain quite frequently, so be prepared with an umbrella.


Winter is dry and freezing. What makes winter unbearable is the wind factor. The chilly wind does make your ears "numb" so it's good to have ear muffs and muffler to cover your neck but I felt beanie is optional.

Getting a Job/Graduate Studies

To get a job in Korea, it is advisable to graduate from a Korean university. Many companies in Korea require their foreign employees to be at least proficient with conversational Korean. From my conversation with my friends working in Korea, landing a job here without any Korean proficiency is quite difficult. Unless you plan to work as an English teacher, the probability to get a job here is low.


If you are graduating from Korean university, every year (around early October) in Seoul, they will be a career fair for foreign students in Korea. Students can also try applying for internships (and this may lead to full employment after graduation) at every semester.

Link for the 2012 International Student Career fair here (Note: many companies' job offers have already been removed from this homepage). If you plan to further your graduate studies here, you can refer to any Korean university's homepage and find their graduate admission procedures. Scholarships are available but the most rewarding scholarship is from the Korean government.


The merits of graduating in Korea lie not in the strength in their education (not perfect in my opinion), but in the chances of working for a numbers of well known companies headquartered here, learning to adapt in a homogeneous, hierarchical society and experience living in one of the most successful Asian Tiger economies.

Conclusion

In between my free time, I contribute articles for the Korean food (Check them out at the koreataste.org link here) blog. For half-a-year too, I worked as the ASEAN-Korea weblog correspondent, writing articles about my country. I have to admit due to deadline constraint and my other commitments, they were not as perfect as I wanted them to be.

The poem "If" by Robert Frost still holds true to this day and it is one of my favorite poems till this day. I am neither the first to step foot on this Land of Morning Calm nor I am regretting my decision to study in Korea.


Honestly, Korea is still not a preferred destination for education to most people, and I can understand the many reasons behind it. In my case, I love to walk on any untrodden path (the path people rarely take) and enjoy the nice scenery along the way.

"Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference."

"If" by Robert Frost

From this blog here

Saturday, May 12, 2012

Photo: Spring in Daegu, South Korea


Our Spring Memories (Location: Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea)

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

[Advance Notice]2012-KGSP Undergraduate

As for 2012 KGSP (Undergrad degree), NIIED will announce its application guideline on the 4th week of August on this site.

For detailed information , please update yourself with NIIED webpage.

Thank you and Good luck

Best wishes,
Bilqis & Msian Scholars

Friday, May 20, 2011

Korean Government Scholarship

Hi guys,

Korean Government scholarship is a great scholarship for students wishing to study abroad and gain experience from Korean Universities. As a Malaysian, I have to say this - studying in Korea is not bed of roses. There were struggles but luckily in the end, we persevered and we did not falter.


I do realize that this blog is pretty inactive and therefore I hope for your kind understanding as we are not full time bloggers. We really would like to help each and every person but due to time and other commitments, we just could not help everyone or reply to your inquire.


Now, it is summer in Korea, lots of weeds, grasses sprouting out here and there from the black, warm earth. It's hot now in Korea, and today in Daegu (my city), it's almost 24 degrees. Hope you are well in Malaysia or wherever you are.

In this post, the most important link to search for Korean Government Scholarship is over here at NIIED (National Institute of International Education) webpage, something like an institute of higher learning for foreigners and Koreans alike. Do visit the website (at this link) frequently for updates on the latest news of scholarship.


Please note this year that the number of scholarships offered by the Korean government for undergraduate studies have been decreasing. Hence the competition can be a little stiff. On the positive side, there are scholarships available for students planning to do their masters in Korea. Nevertheless, we hope you are doing well and see you in Korea one day.


Warm Regards from us all in Korea,


Kyle and the rest of KGSP Malaysian scholars

Saturday, November 6, 2010

KGSP gathering - Seoul

It has been a while since we last updated the blog. Lately, most of the KGSP scholars are busy with their assignments, especially the ones in Seoul since these few weeks were the exam weeks.

Updating the blog is a voluntary work so sometimes it is pretty hard to gather all the KGSP bloggers to write something for this blog. Anyway, we had a get together in Seoul yesterday (updated fast right? ;) ).

We met at 신도림역의 출구 (Sindorim Station Exit) at a supposed time of 6pm and had dinner in a restaurant nearby.


Scholars from INHA and Yonsei University


Sherry and Ayla - 2nd batch


Joel and Wai Kit from the 3rd batch


Natalie, Kyle and Li Yuen


Pic at the restaurant


KGSP scholars (lots are still missing)

The restaurant's dishes were suprisingly delicious. Nevertheless, it's not the food that counts but the friendships that were forged during the meet up.

Updated:

7 Nov 2010

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Jemputan ke PPMK Family Day 2010


Selamat sejahtera semua,

Merujuk perkara di atas , adalah dimaklumkan bahawa Biro Kebudayaan dan Kesenian PPMK 2009/2010 ingin menjemput semua pelajar di Korea untuk menghadiri PPMK Family Day 2010.

2. Berikut merupakan butiran mengenai PPMK Family Day 2010:

Tarikh : 2010-09-25 (Sabtu)
Lokasi : SKT Hall, Tingkat 7, Business School, Hanyang University (Sila rujuk map yang dilampirkan)
Masa : 10.00am ~ 5.00 pm

Tema : Back to School

3. Berikut merupakan tentatif program hari tersebut:

10.00am Arrival of guests

11.00am Arrivals of VIPs

11.10am Opening Video

11.15am Speech by President of PPMK

11.20am Speech by Mr. Hanisan & Opening Ceremony

11.25am Opening performance by Batch 10

11.30am Runway Fashion Accessories (Full)

12.30pm Lunch & Prayer Time

1.30 pm Batch Performance 1

1.45 pm Musical Group Performance 1

2.00 pm Video 1,2

2.10 pm Batch Performance 2

2.25 pm Musical Group Performance 2

2.40 pm Batch Performance 3

2.55 pm Musical Group Performance 3
3.10 pm Video 3,4,5

3.25 pm Batch Performance 4

3.40 pm Musical Group Performance 4

3.55 pm Batch Performance 5
4.10 pm Musical Group Performance 5

4.25 pm Special Performance of Graduated Students

4.35 pm Prize Giving

4.45 pm Photo Session

5.00 pm End of Ceremony

3. Diharapkan semua pelajar dapat menghadirkan diri dengan pakaian yang sopan pada hari tersebut. Kerjasama anda semua kami dahulukan dengan ucapan terima kasih. Kehadiran anda semua pasti akan memeriahkan lagi progam ini! Datanglah beramai-ramai.

Untuk pertanyaan, sila hubungi:

Low Wenning 010-5789-6516

Sekian, terima kasih.


Yang menjalankan tugas,

Low Wenning

Biro Kebudayaan dan Kesenian 1

PPMK 09/10

Mohd Ariff bin Mohd Sani

Biro Kebudayaan dan Keseniaan 2
PPMK 09/10



Thursday, June 3, 2010

Korea Vegetarian Bibimbap 산채비빔밥

A simple but popular dish, bibimbap is a bowl of hot rice served in a bowl topped with a variety of vegetables (cooked and raw) arranged on top. Vegetables can be seasonal, with toraji, bell flower roots, gosari, bracken, bean sprouts, and spinach often served. Other ingredients can include chestnuts, jujubes, ginseng, and a small amount of seafood or meat. An egg may be also served on the top. Most restaurants prepare the dish with a big scoop of gochujang and red pepper paste placed with the vegetables. (Ask for it to be placed on the side if you do not like the taste much.)

This dish comes in two ways: a large bowl with rice on the bottom and the other ingredients placed on top, or just the ingredients in the bowl and a separate bowl of rice. Mix all the ingredients together then use your spoon to eat. A bowl of light soup is also served.

Source : lifeinkorea


by Bilqis