GRIP, Internships Abroad My Internship Experience in Seoul

International Development in Seoul, South Korea

To be completely honest, I had no idea what to expect on my first day working in Seoul, South Korea. This was my first internship experience, and the train ride to the office felt like an eternity. Walking into the busy, corporate building full of high-profile businessmen freaked me out, so I kept my head down and quickly found my destination. Once I stepped into the office, I thought that I would be greeted by cold stares, but I could not have been more wrong. 

My first day of work definitely set the tone for how the rest of my summer went. As soon as my fellow interns and I arrived, we were immediately placed on a project with Twitter Korea and given the task of helping with their current campaign proposals. Not only was the work engaging, but my team and I had a great time brainstorming and making an impact for our CEO starting from day 1. My initial feelings of fear and worry quickly went away, and I felt myself adapting to the corporate culture of Korea within that first week.

When most people talk about Seoul, they mention the vibrant nature of the Korean economy that fosters harmony between innovation and tradition, and that is exactly what I found. Having the opportunity to work in the dynamic homeplace of cutting-edge technology was truly a very rewarding experience, as I was constantly surrounded by some of the greatest minds that the city had to offer. Each person at my company, Allison & Partners, displayed an incredible work ethic and dedication to their projects, willingly working well past their hours in order to finish what they started. It was exactly the type of environment where I found myself most motivated and able to share my interests through my work. 

Furthermore, I think that my internship experience in Seoul made a significant impact on how I would like to go about choosing a future career. It reminded me of the importance of who I choose to surround myself with, and I find myself at my best and most productive when I surround myself with people who are just as, if not more, motivated as I am. I believe that a truly successful career does not necessarily entail a life of great fame or fortune, but the lasting effects that one leaves behind within their community. This summer has solidified that concept of impact for me, and I am so thankful to have had this amazing opportunity.