Study Abroad in Seoul, South Korea

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Why Study Abroad in Seoul?

South Korea offers a fascinating case study for the future of Asia — having transformed from post-war recovery to a leading G20 economy in just a few generations, it now sits at the centre of global conversations on technology, sustainability, and cultural soft power. From Samsung and Naver to AI and the future of work, Korea is shaping how the rest of the world will live, work, and consume.

Seoul itself is one of Asia’s most dynamic innovation hubs — a city where global tech companies, K-culture industries, and a rapidly transforming society intersect. Students engage directly with the businesses, policymakers, and cultural producers driving the next chapter of Asia’s rise, while exploring contemporary Korean society through its food, religion, education, and the global phenomenon of Hallyu.

Hosted at Sogang University — a top-ranked Jesuit research university in the heart of Seoul — students gain access to a world-class campus while immersing themselves in one of Asia’s most consequential cities. Weekend excursions to Busan, Jeju, and Gyeongju extend the classroom across the peninsula.

Where You'll Study

Sogang University, Mapo-gu

You’ll study at Sogang University’s Mapo-gu campus — a top-ranked Jesuit research university in the heart of Seoul. Founded in 1960 in the tradition of cura personalis (“care for the whole person”), Sogang is home to one of Asia’s leading AACSB-accredited business schools and a research community recognized across the sciences, humanities, and policy.

The Mapo-gu district places students at the intersection of Seoul’s tech, creative, and cultural industries — within easy reach of Hongdae’s vibrant student scene, the global headquarters of Korea’s largest entertainment and tech companies, and the public-transit network that connects students to the rest of the city. Classrooms, libraries, and student services at Sogang are complemented by an Authentica program manager on the ground throughout the semester.

Where You'll Stay

Sogang University Residence Halls

On-campus · Curated by Sogang
  • On-campus accommodation operated by Sogang University
  • Shared bedroom
  • Shared common areas (kitchen, lounge, study spaces)
  • Bed linens included
  • WiFi access
  • Access to Sogang student facilities (library, gym, dining)
  • 24/7 security

Curated Off-Campus Housing

Apartments · Walking distance to campus
  • Shared apartments curated by Authentica
  • Walking or short-transit distance to Mapo-gu campus
  • Shared bedroom (max 2–3 students per room)
  • Fully equipped kitchen
  • Bed linens included · WiFi access · Washer access
  • Heating / air conditioning

Co-Curriculum

To enhance and enrich the formal curriculum, we offer a robust slate of co-curricular programming focused on SDGs, professional development, and experiential learning. Field engagements in and around Seoul expose students to issues, organizations, and initiatives they wouldn’t otherwise access — preparing them for the workforce while deepening their understanding of Asia’s rise.

Seoul Program Concentrations

Analyze how business, technology, and sustainability intersect in one of Asia’s most dynamic economies. Students examine how Korean firms have built globally competitive enterprises while navigating climate, supply-chain, and ESG pressures.

Core Course (Summer · 3 credits)
Core Courses (Semester)

Engage with South Korea’s advanced tech ecosystem — from Samsung and Naver to startup labs and AI research — while exploring how generative AI is reshaping work, learning, and creative industries.

Core Course (Summer · 3 credits)
Core Courses (Semester)
  • Artificial Intelligence: Deep Learning (3)
  • Marketing Strategy for Innovative Technologies and Emerging Markets (3)
  • AI Applied Education Theories and Implementation (3)

Understand South Korea’s transformation from post-war recovery to G20 powerhouse — and what it teaches about export-led growth, industrial policy, and the future of Asia’s economic ascent.

Core Course (Summer · 3 credits)
Core Courses (Semester)
  • Critical Issues in Contemporary Asia I (3)
  • International Trade (3)
  • Development Economics (3)

Study Korean democracy, the DMZ, alliances, and modern history through one of the world’s most consequential geopolitical case studies — set against five thousand years of cultural continuity.

Core Course (Summer · 3 credits)
Core Courses (Semester)
  • Introductory Seminar in Korean Studies (3)
  • Formation of Modern Korea (3)
  • Survey of Korean History II (3)

Examine contemporary Korean society — gender, family, education, religion, and the rapid social transformation that has reshaped one of Asia’s most dynamic societies in a single generation.

Core Course (Summer · 3 credits)
Core Courses (Semester)
  • Introduction to Korean Culture (3)
  • Korean Studies Seminar: Performance and Culture (3)
  • Introduction to Korean Sociolinguistics (3)

Explore Hallyu — the global Korean Wave — and how K-pop, K-drama, and Korean cinema became one of the twenty-first century’s most consequential cultural and economic phenomena.

Core Course (Summer · 3 credits)
Core Courses (Semester)
  • Introduction to Korean Culture (3)
  • K-Art, from Tradition to Contemporary Art (3)
  • K-pop and Cultural Studies (3)

Course Syllabi

Seoul Core Courses

Below are the six Authentica-assigned core courses for the Seoul Summer Program — each anchored in Sogang’s faculty-taught catalog. Click any course for the full syllabus including learning objectives, assessments, course outline, and recommended readings.

LOCATION

Course Location

TERM

Course Term

THEME

Seoul Theme

DISCIPLINE

Seoul Discipline
K-Culture
K-movie and Hallyu
Film Studies
From Parasite's Oscar sweep to Squid Game's global reach — Korean cinema and television as creative force, industrial achievement, and cultural diplomacy in the streaming era.
K-Culture
K-POP and Global Hallyu
Media Studies
How K-pop became the global cultural and economic phenomenon it is today — through the lens of media systems, fan communities, soft power, and the platforms that exported Korean creativity worldwide.
Society
Korean Culture
Cultural Studies
Korean cultural traditions, philosophical foundations, and identity — from Confucian heritage and Buddhist influence to contemporary expressions of Korean creativity and global cultural confidence.
Society
Korean Society
Sociology
Contemporary Korean society — family structure, gender dynamics, educational pressure, religion, and the rapid generational change reshaping one of Asia's most dynamic societies.
History & Politics
Introduction to Korean Politics
Political Science
Korean democracy in practice — political parties, civil society, the DMZ, US-ROK alliance dynamics, and the Korean peninsula's role in shaping Indo-Pacific geopolitics.
History & Politics
Introduction to Korean History
History
Five thousand years of Korean history — from the Three Kingdoms through colonization, war, division, and democratic transformation — anchoring contemporary geopolitics in deep historical context.
Economy
Introduction to Macroeconomics
Economy
South Korea's economy — from post-war reconstruction to G20 leadership — as a working case study in macroeconomic policy, industrial strategy, and the dynamics of Asia's economic rise.
Technology
Practical Applications of Generative AI
Computer Science
From Korea's tech giants to its AI startups, students explore how generative AI is being deployed across industry — and develop hands-on skills with the platforms reshaping the global workforce.
Business
International Business
Business
Korea's globally competitive enterprises — Samsung, Hyundai, LG, K-beauty exporters — serve as case studies for how Asian firms compete, partner, and scale internationally in the twenty-first century.

Program Dates & Price

Full Semester

Spring 2027

Spring Semester

📅 February 24 – June 21, 2027 (Est.)
Credits9–15 Credits
CostUS $14,900
📍 Seoul, South Korea
Apply by November 16, 2026
Apply Now →
Short-Term Program

Summer 2027

Summer Cohort

📅 June 25 – July 23, 2027 (Est.)
Credits3 Credits (+3 free with optional 2nd course)
CostUS $4,970
📍 Seoul, South Korea
Apply by May 10, 2027
Apply Now →
Full Semester

Fall 2027

Fall Semester

🍂
📅 August 24 – December 19, 2027 (Est.)
Credits9–15 Credits
CostUS $14,900
📍 Seoul, South Korea
Apply by July 19, 2027
Apply Now →

Application Requirements

Matriculation in a US-accredited college or university. Good academic and disciplinary standing. 2.5 GPA.

Program Inclusions

airport pickup and transpotation to accomondation

Guided visit to a major Seoul cultural site

Guided market visit and Korean cooking class

Guided DMZ tour and geopolitical briefing

Welcome and farewell dinners

Walking neighborhood orientation in Mapo-gu

24/7 Authentica staff assistance

Two weekly co-curricular activities in Seoul

Public transportation pass for the duration of the program

All course materials

International Insurance coverage

Looking for ways to fund your experience?

Authentica standard programs are based in popular study abroad destinations for US undergraduates, but we aim to approach and engage our locations in distinctive, highly intentional ways.  

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