Michael Kruk

Why Korea? During the winter semester of 2012, I decided to spend a semester abroad in Korea, not just because the country is one of the most technologically advanced in the world but also because the country continues to set new standards in the industrial and economic sector, even though it is almost as small as Austria.

I spent my semester abroad in the capital, Seoul, which is the world’s second largest metropolis with some 25 million inhabitants. Seoul is a very lively and dynamic city, rich in cultural events and festivals. Despite the size of the city, the air quality is relatively good. Thanks to the very dense underground network, you can visit and go walking in one of the surrounding national parks in a short space of time.

Hanyang University is one of the best and oldest universities in the country which specialises in particular in engineering and business. There are a wide range of courses for Bachelor and Master’s students available as well as the opportunity to attend some MBA classes. The professors all completed their PhDs in America and therefore speak very good English. Some courses involved excursions, which gave us the opportunity to visit major companies and attend conferences.

All in all, my semester abroad was very enriching because I got to know lots of students from all over the world as well as learning a lot about Korean culture. I also acquired lots of important experience for my further professional career because at the end of the course, I was very lucky to complete an internship at a Korean pharmaceuticals company.