# Benjamin Chun, '22, Harvard Summer School in Seoul, Korea Program, Summer 2019 September 09, 2019 ![Image of students, Benjamin Chun on left and Marcia Lagesse on right in Seoul in 2019](/sites/g/files/omnuum10896/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/koreainstitute/files/ben_chun_img_8471.jpg?h=acadc20f&itok=KDDeKyFm) Coming into Harvard, I knew that one thing I had to do before I graduate was study abroad. I’ve always wanted to travel to another country and truly immerse myself in that culture. This summer, I was given this opportunity and was able to spend eight fantastic weeks in Seoul, South Korea taking classes, making lifelong friendships, and learning about the place where my parents and grandparents grew up. One of the classes I took this summer was a Korean language course. Having already taken a Korean language course at Harvard, I can confidently say that studying the language in the heart of Korea is a completely different experience. From ordering meals to asking for directions to even singing my heart out at local noraebangs (Korean karaoke rooms), there were countless opportunities to practice my korean outside of the classroom. I could see my korean significantly improving every day and, by the end of the program, I was able to not only sing a full rendition of BTS’ “Boy With Luv,” but also hold a full conversation with my grandfather, something I was not able to do before. The second class I took this summer was a government course on the North Korean regime. Going into the program and having never taken a government course before, I was a little nervous and did not know what to expect. However, I can definitely say that this course has allowed me to grow as a critical thinker and explore the different stories of the past. Whether it was by reading primary sources on the North Korean economy, studying the developments of China-North Korea relations, or learning about the inspiring stories of various defectors, I was able to better understand a lot of the problems associated with the contemporary North Korean regime and the ways in which we are currently working to solve these problems in a rapidly changing political environment. Most importantly, the skills I learned from this course are very applicable to my own life and have allowed me to gain a newfound perspective on the world we are living in today. Outside the classroom, I spent my free time visiting various parts of Seoul and really immersing myself in the Korean culture. Whether it was eating exotic dishes like san-nakji (live octopus), experiencing the nightlife in a city that never sleeps, and even visiting the famous Gyeongbokgung palace (where I had a phenomenal photoshoot in traditional Korean hanbok), I was exposed to a completely different way of life, while also spending time and learning from the Korean Ewha students that were part of the program. In addition, I cannot thank the program enough for all the amazing cultural field trips that were planned each week. One of the most memorable trips for me was the weekend-long Jeju trip, where we had the opportunity to not only enjoy the beautiful island, but also learn about the sad history of its uprising. I can say, without a doubt, that these field trips along with the rest of my time in Korea gave me the chance to learn more about myself and better appreciate my Korean-American identity. Coming back to Harvard, I hope to continue taking Korean language courses and learning more about this beautiful culture. In addition, this year, I am the Co-Culture chair for the Harvard Korean Association (HKA) and I hope to use a lot of my experiences from this summer into organizing fun events that will bring the Korean community on campus closer together. To the donors of the David Rockefeller International Experience Fund Grant, I cannot thank you enough. This summer was an unforgettable and transformative experience that allowed me to grow both academically and culturally. I’ve met so many wonderful people and loved every second of it. Thank you again for your generous donations. See also:- [ Undergraduate ](/audience/undergraduate) - [ Student Reflection ](/news-type/student-reflection) Share on:- [ Facebook ](#) - [ Twitter ](#) - [ Linkedin ](#)