Please introduce yourself.

My name is Jungyun Choi and I am currently a senior student in the Division of International Studies. I studied in Leeds, United Kingdom, for a semester as an exchange student majoring in Performance and Cultural Industries. The courses I took were in musical theatre, event management, and performance workshops. I enjoyed learning about British theatre and British culture during my time in Leeds.

What made you want to study as an exchange student?

Traveling and studying in a new environment were the two major reasons why I applied for the exchange program. As a person who loves to travel, I had a strong desire to live abroad for six months. Additionally I knew that the cultural and artistic experiences that I would have in Europe would be very beneficial as well. I visited five countries and 42 cities during my time in the UK, trying to make the most out of the time. One place that I would recommend for all visitors to the UK is Seven Sisters, where you can see beautiful chalk cliffs. Another reason why I chose to participate in the program was because I wanted to experience studying in a foreign university. I not only wanted to see how students abroad study, but also wanted to experience their university life. Besides, theatre is a field that originates from the UK, so it felt right to go and learn and experience the theatre culture there. I loved going to theatres to watch musicals or plays with friends while traveling in different cities in the UK.

What was the most memorable moment abroad?

My favorite moment was when I got to perform in a play called “The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui.” This was my first time acting in front of an audience, and my team worked so hard to make this show happen. Before the show started and the audiences started coming in, the cast would get together and perform a special ritual to get us all started and ready for the show. I would never forget all the work and effort put into the production by all of my classmates.

How did you prepare for the exchange program?

The very first thing that I did was to decide on which school and program to apply for. I narrowed down my choices to universities in the UK since I wanted to go to a European country and take theatre classes. I omitted the US since I had already gone there in my sophomore year as an intern. Then, I tried to meet the qualifications as best as I could. Hanyang University has basically two standards when it comes to applying for the program: GPA and English. The higher your GPA, the more likely it is that you will be able to go to the school of your choice. English is also essential, as most schools require some type of English score in order to study in the country. It is also very important to check the website of the Office of International Affairs because that is where most of the information is regarding exchange programs.

Would you recommend it to other students?

The exchange program is a package full of amazing experiences. I would recommend it to everyone, as it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that allows you to travel, study, and network at the same time. The program really enables you to explore “your world,” try something new, go to different places, meet different people, and just enjoy your time abroad. I will never forget the six months I spent abroad in the UK where I learned so much from great people. I would say that the only downside of studying abroad is probably the cost because you need money to travel and participate in social events. Nevertheless, it was totally worth it for me, and I would choose to go again if I had the chance to do so.