Study Abroad Program

Why/how did you decide to join the exchange program?

As a near-future goal, I hope to pursue graduate studies in East Asian Studies, focusing on country-specific research within the region. To build a solid foundation for my future academic pursuits, I believe that immersing myself in the countries within the East Asian cultural sphere is the most effective way to develop a well-rounded understanding of the region’s society, politics, and history. Moreover, mastering the local languages is also equally essential, as I believe it is the only way to access first-hand knowledge and gain deeper insights from native sources. After entering the CRPS program, I began studying Korean with the aim of becoming fluent in Korean, Japanese, and English to support my future academic and professional endeavors. When I discovered that CRPS offers an English-taught exchange program with Yonsei University, one of the top universities in Korea, I saw it as a valuable opportunity to pursue this goal even before fully mastering the Korean language. Therefore, I decided to apply for this program, hoping it will help me further improve my Korean skills, deepen my understanding of East Asian studies, as well as a Korean perspective.

What were the daily life and classes there like?

Life in Korea, as a foreigner, feels quite similar to my experience in Japan, but there are also notable differences, which I will explain in terms of clothing, food, housing, transportation, and studying. Clothing: Summers in Seoul are significantly cooler compared to Osaka. Even in the hottest month of July, wearing two layers of clothing sometimes does not feel overly warm. While this is a pleasant surprise, it is important for exchange students staying for a year to be prepared for winters that are much colder than in Osaka, as the temperature drops substantially during the winter months. Food: On campus, there are several cafeterias, fast-food restaurants, and convenience stores, all of which offer a wide variety of affordable meals. Honestly, if not for the desire to explore more local cuisine, one could eat all meals on campus without feeling bored. One key difference to note is that payments are mostly made using credit cards or Korean mobile payment apps. In many stores, cash is rarely accepted. Therefore, exchanging a large amount of cash upon arrival, as I did in Japan, would likely be unnecessary. Housing: Students can choose between on-campus dormitories or off-campus housing. However, most exchange students stay in the international student dorms, which are located within the university grounds. While there are more expensive single rooms, most accommodations are double rooms equipped with a toilet and shower (separated into wet and dry areas), two beds, and study desks. The rooms also have air conditioning, but it is usually turned on only when the summer begins in late May or June. Transportation: Just like Japan, Korea has a highly developed public transportation system. Yonsei University is located in the Sinchon area of Seodaemun District, where all daily needs and entertainment options are within walking distance. For longer trips, there are plenty of bus stops and nearby subway stations, including Sinchon Station and Sinchon KTX Station. It is recommended to use local Korean map applications for navigation, as they are more accurate than foreign apps. Similarly, taking taxis requires downloading local taxi apps. Studying: Compared to courses in Japan, the pace of study here is relatively fast. Yonsei offers courses that typically meet for three hours per week, which is different from Japan where most classes last only one hour. Correspondingly, each course usually carries three credits. As an undergraduate exchange student, one can take a maximum of 18 credits and a minimum of 9 credits per semester. From my experience, taking 15 credits strikes the best balance between study and free time. Most classes emphasize active participation and include both midterm and final exams, This may seem somewhat challenging, but with consistent effort, they are quite manageable.

What did you learn from the exchange program? In what way would you like to make the most of it in the future?

My exchange semester in Korea gave me a much clearer sense of direction for my future studies. In one of my classes, “Sustainable Korea: History, Memory, and Heritage,” the professor introduced the concept of “difficult heritage diplomacy.” This idea really stuck with me. It refers to efforts between countries to talk about and deal with painful, contested parts of shared history—things that still feel unresolved or emotional for many people today. Having grown up in China and studied in both Japan and Korea, I’ve come to realize how much these historical issues continue to hold back open and productive communication between the three countries. But at the same time, I also believe that because these histories are shared, they can actually be a starting point for new understanding and cooperation. If we can face and talk about these “difficult heritages” honestly, we can remove some of the deep-rooted barriers. And once those barriers are gone, collaboration becomes much easier and more sustainable. Another thing I learned during my time at Yonsei is how important quantitative research has become in almost every field. Through the readings, lectures, and talking with classmates from all over the world, I saw how central statistics and data analysis are to academic work today. Honestly, this was a bit of a wake-up call. Before coming to Korea, I had only taken one basic statistics class at Ritsumeikan, and I often found it hard to fully understand the tables and formulas we were dealing with—let alone use them in my own research. So now, I’ve made it a personal goal to strengthen my skills in this area over the next two years, especially if I plan to continue into graduate school or even a PhD program in the future. Beyond all of this, this exchange experience also gave me important lessons in different aspects. There’s a saying like: “You can make a big community feel small, but you can’t make a small community feel big.”At CRPS, we have small, supportive classes where the teachers really pay attention to students. But at Yonsei, I got to experience what it's like to study at a large university. I ran from building to building between classes, walked through tree-lined hills at night, and sat in huge lecture halls facing giant chalkboards. All of these moments really shaped my experience.

Approximately how much did it cost you while studying there?

※Students are granted Study Abroad Challenge Scholarship after they alive the host institution. (¥250,000 for half year program)
※Students do not need to pay any tuition to the host institution but must keep paying regular tuition to Ritsumeikan while studying abroad.

One day as an exchange student

• 7:00Wake up
• 8:00Eat Breakfast (1000KRW for breakfast)
• 9:001st class starts
• 11:00lunch (There might be classes around noon, and it tends to be very crowded around noon, so you might want to design your schedule carefully.)
• 16:55A cup of Coffee
• 17:50Last class ends
• 18:30Eat Dinner
• 19:30Do assignments and pre-readings
• 21:00Do exercise
• 22:00Watch Youtube
• 24:00Go to bed