Jin Ko
C ’28
Health & Societies and Biology
SA: Summer Study Abroad at Seoul National University
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- Exploring South Korea and all of its famous food markets
- Making native friends while mastering the language
- Planning day trips to explore prominent neighborhoods and districts
- Finding the best way to navigate around Seoul and eating the most famous foods
- Visiting cultural sites such as Gyeongbokgung Palace and important historical areas such as the DMZ
- Living and traveling abroad alone for the first time
My Experience Abroad
Studying abroad as a student on the pre-med track can be difficult, especially given the extensive course requirements and limited time available to complete them. Because of this, I chose to study abroad during the summer while balancing my research work at Penn. For six weeks, I took classes at Seoul National University (SNU) while exploring Seoul and other parts of South Korea.
During the program, I took courses related to medicine and surgical technology and learned about differences between the healthcare systems in South Korea and the United States. One of my favorite classes was “Topics in Future Healthcare,” in which we studied the evolution of technology across various medical fields. From the da Vinci surgical system for laparoscopic procedures to the growing use of artificial intelligence in medicine, the course expanded my understanding of medicine in entirely new ways.
Furthermore, I visited hospitals and research laboratories in person, gaining firsthand exposure to the new technologies and ongoing research at Seoul National University. Through this experience, I was able not only to balance my responsibilities as a pre-med student but also to explore and enjoy South Korea to the fullest.
Other Highlights
- Weekly field trips to famous and fun places such as the DMZ and Everland. Seoul National University provides a new location every Friday to explore and have fun. This could range from historical sites such as the DMZ to amusement parks such as Everland or Lotte World.
- Expanding my palate and going to over six different food markets spread across Seoul. Even as a Korean American, there were several foods that tasted unique to be despite eating them in the United States such as beef tartare and more.
- Hiking some of South Korea’s many mountains and finding some amazing views. I’d recommend bringing a camera as the views are something I wouldn’t be able to experience anywhere else in the world (Though, I would also recommend bringing bug spray).
