1.    Please introduce yourself (background, interests, your MBTI, and so on)

My name is Veerle van Leeuwen from the Netherlands, 23 years old and currently a second-semester international trade student at Sogang GSIS.

I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in accounting in 2024. After graduating, I decided to take a gap year from studying to get some rest. I went backpacking around the world and found an interesting job to fill my time before the move to South Korea.

My first introduction with Korea was in 2022 when I went here on exchange. I wasn’t really familiar with Korea before, so this experience opened my eyes to the beautiful country and culture. During my time here in 2022 I made so many fun memories and met so many friends. Honestly had the best time of my life back then. When I decided to do my master abroad I quickly decided to go back to South Korea, because why not go on an adventure. When such a big change is going to take place it is nice to feel comfortable with one part of that big change, for me Seoul is that comfortable part.

My MBTI is ISTP, I am introverted but act extroverted most of the time. I am a planner but only for fun things like trips. For school I am organized in my mind but there is no planning in regards to when things get done. But my perfectionist side makes sure everything is always completed on time and done well.

2.    Can you tell us the reason why you chose to study at Sogang GSIS?

I decided to apply to only two universities because I will never go to a school that does not feel 100% right. I ended up getting into both, but there was one thing that set Sogang apart and led to my final decision. This was Sogang’s communication. All my questions were answered so fast and when some documents for my visa contained errors, they fixed it quickly.

Besides this Sogang reminds me of my bachelor’s university. A little bit smaller than the big universities, but feels much more personal and like a little village. In my opinion people who choose Sogang GSIS are similar in some way because they value the same things.

I also had some friends attend Sogang and heard some good things about how involved professors are. I can confirm that this is true, professors are very interested in the students. All this combined made me choose Sogang in the end.

3.    How do you usually spend your spare time in Korea?

How I spend my spare time in Korea really depends on the season and whether we are at school or have a break.

Spring & Autumn are my favorite seasons in Korea and these fall within the semesters so there is a little less free time, but still I try to do as much as I can. As I am Dutch, riding a bicycle is in my nature, so I do that a lot. My house is really close to the river so I bike along there and take in the view. Also just walking around the different areas and taking in the nature like fall foliage and cherry blossoms. Going to cafes is something I like to do as well as just visiting some small stores that I come across while walking.

Winter & summer are total opposites. Summer is really hot and unbearable and winter can get really cold and dry. During these seasons doing fun things inside is necessary. So, bowling, karaoke, playing pool, and board game cafés are some of my favorite things to do during this time.

4.    Can you recommend your favorite place/spot in Seoul?

My ultimate favorite spot in Seoul is anywhere along the Han River. There are so many different parks and paths to walk. The thing is, at these spots all the people are just enjoying their life. They are walking, running, biking, sitting down and enjoying just being there. So you can do all those things as well and relax.

My favorite neighborhood is Mangwon. There are a lot of cafes and little shops hidden in small streets. The vibe is more retro and vintage instead of really modern. Besides this, there is also Mangwon Market, which has some really cheap fruits/vegetables and delicious food.

5.    Any recommendations or know-how on life in Korea?

My recommendation is to just try to speak Korean even if you only know the basics. Speaking when you are not comfortable with your Korean level makes you realize that people appreciate the effort and they will never criticize you for trying.

Also, if you are not living on campus get the climate card. This will save you money on transportation costs. It includes, bus, subway, night bus, and for a few thousand won more you can even include the bike rental and ferry service, which I highly recommend.

6.    Can you share your most memorable experience at Sogang GSIS with us?

My most memorable experience is not just one thing that happened. What I find really memorable about my time at GSIS so far is the unexpected moments. The ones where you are at school and suddenly your friends or other people are there and you have some really good conversations, laughs, or random plans get made. Even if you are going to school thinking nobody you know is there, you always run into somebody.

But if I had to choose one experience it would be the school festival. During that week there are food trucks, stalls, and activities besides the main performances. Just enjoying this with friends last fall was a really fun experience. Sitting together, dancing together, and just enjoying the moment with all of us.

7.    Do you have any advice for the prospective students at Sogang GSIS?

Don’t stress too much about everything. It will all work out. The first weeks will be a bit unfamiliar, but that is understandable and everybody has that feeling, you are not alone. Enjoy everything, even the stressful days because time goes by really fast! Try to enjoy living in Seoul, do the fun stuff on the weekend, go on the side quest, because there is more to living abroad than just studying. Of course, studying is important, but don’t let it fully consume your days.

8.    Do you have anything to say to Sogang GSIS?

Thank you Sogang for giving me all these memories so far! Even though I am not even halfway through my master, I know I will miss this time in my life. Thank you for building this environment for us to learn in and grow as people. During the application process I felt how helpful the school was in communicating and answering questions.