Exchange Experience in South Korea KAIST Business School Lin Yang D Abhiram Sitakalin D530001

Tips before Exchange

Understanding the Korean culture  Do some reading on the culture and politics of South Korea

Living Cost  Living in Seoul is expensive if compare with the living cost in Bangkok  Fruit and vegetables are around 3 times more expensive than in Thailand  KAIST business school will provide free accommodations during the exchange life  1,800,000 won per month will be enough

Language Barrier  Many Korean people do not understand English at all  Learn some basic Korean will be good before leaving

Getting the food that you want  Korean food is acceptable by almost every Asian countries  You may bring some Thai food if you will miss Thai food in Korea, and Thai food in Korea is very expensive

Meet Sasin Advisors about Getting Credit  Get a gernaral understanding about how many credit you need during the exchange in Korea and how many credits you can transfer from KAIST business school to Sasin  Some course for example: Korean Language can not be transferred to Sasin credit

Community Connection  SIM card system mobile phone can not be used in South Korean, you may need to buy a second hand Korean phone when you arrive Korea.  Blackberry can be used in South Korea but very expensive, and Blackberry is not popular in South Korea  Facebook will be a good way to connect with your friends in Thailand

Exchange Experience

Academic  Registration process  In KAIST Business school course registration starts in the first two weeks, during the first two weeks you can go to any class you want and make your decision in two weeks  But you have to be ware of the dead line, if you miss the deadline of course registration, even you attend the class every time you can not be part of the class and will have no credit also, there is no back up plan.

Academic  Course description  Every exchange students have to choose at least 3 courses with 9 credits.  Korean culture and Business course is compulsorily  Notice that credits from Korean Language class can not be transferred to Sasin credits

Academic  Course recommend  E-commerce : E-commerce is very developed in South Korea so this course can give you the knowledge that you will not get in Thailand  Korean Language: NOT recommend. If you want to learn Korean Language I suggest you find an institution outside of school, they will provide better quality of teaching with the same price.

Academic  Workload  Compare with studying in Sasin, workload in KAIST business is much less. Because the semester is 4 months, so you will always find time to study and also enjoy the life in Korea  But if you study more than 9 credits you may feel a little intense, but still you will have time to finish.

Accommodation  KAIST provide free dormitory during the exchange life in Korea  Two person live in one room, KAIST will arrange the roommate for you  There is no toilet or shower room in the dormitory  Air conditioner is available  There is living room on the top floor with LCD TV and Microwave, there is also fridge and laundry on the top floor

Accommodation  KAIST dormitory

Accommodation  Renting room type  One-room: small private room without toilet, cheap rental fee, around 200,000 won per month, no need to sign long term contact  Apartment: Price depends on the location and the room. Need to sign at least one year contact  Home stay host: cheaper than apartment, provided by local Korean family

Transportation  Subway: Very convenient and cheap

Transportation  Subway There are two nearest station near KAIST Lin6: Korean university station Line1: Hoegi station

Transportation  Bus: Bus is very clean and convenient in Seoul also. There are some buses I recommend to you to go to the popular area from KAIST:  Bus 273: From KAIST to Hongdae  From KAIST to Korean university  Bus 1225: From KAIST to Lotte  Bus 144: From Korean university to Gangnam

Transportation  Bus  There are some free bus for foreigners to go to other city in South Korea, check this website: main.asp

Transportation  Taxi: There are three type of taxies:  Sliver color: start from 2400 won  Black color: very expensive, NOT recommend  Orange color: some can provide English or Chinese translations, but more expensive than silver one

Extra Curricular Activities  Dance class Korean people love JAZZ and HIPHOP dance, you can see Hip-hop dance show everywhere, here is a dance school I recommend: candance.co.kr/ candance.co.kr/ The teacher has many rewords from competitions and used to trained many Korean pop singers.

Extra Curricular Activities  Dance in Korea

Extra Curricular Activities  Football

Extra Curricular Activities  Shopping for girls:  Dongdeamun is the best place for girls shopping, we recommend building Hello APM third floor, there are many local designers opening shop in the third floor, and has new arrival every week  Doota: The same cloth are more expensive than in the building Hello APM, but this place is more easier for picking cloth  Myoedong: Best place for shopping cosmetics

Extra Curricular Activities  Shopping for man:  Hello APM 4 th floor: Sellers on the 4 th floor will be more aggressive, you have to compare with the price before you pay  Hello APM B1: causal and sport cloth  Doota 3 rd floor: Price is a little bit high but cloth are trendy

Extra Curricular Activities  Food  Near school: Try every shop and you will not be disappoint  Hongdea: many Korean BBQ located here and price is cheap  Myoegdoong: Not recommend because the food is for tourist  Gangnam: should not miss, come out of exit 6 or 7 from Gangnam subway station, there are many good food waiting for you  Incedong: Many Korean traditional food

Extra Curricular Activities  Ski: Best time is from January to March Here is the places we recommend:

Extra Curricular Activities  Spa trip: Korean people strongly recommended: N_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=  During weekdays the room rate is very cheap and not many people  Water temperature is adjusted depends on the season

Extra Curricular Activities  Spa: