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Seoul, South Korea Skyline.

City at a Glance

Seoul, South Korea
Location Northeastern South Korea
City type Megalopolis
Population 25.6 million
Official language(s) Korean
Climate Subtropical
Average temperatures January: 28° F, July: 77° F
Landscape Urban, riverscape
Factoid Called the Miracle on the Han River, the city transformed from a developing to a developed country following the Korean War.

About Seoul

A 24-hour city, Seoul has an intense work-hard, play-hard culture. The booming metropolis fuses tradition and modernity. Seoul citizens have a deep respect for higher ranking individuals and pride in their venerable city. At the same time, retail therapy and cutting-edge technology—Wi-Fi even in parks!—reign in Seoul. The city integrates an urban landscape with large green spaces, making it a great destination for nature buffs and city fans. Despite a relatively small international community, Seoul is experiencing a growing multicultural influence.

Where is Seoul

37.566535, 126.9779692

What to do in Seoul

  • Gyeongbokgung Palace: Capture all the photos you can of the ornate royal palace built by the Joseon dynasty over 600 years ago.
  • Gangnam District: Dive into the frenetic playground south of the river that has sprawling shopping malls and an intense nightlife scene.
  • Seoul Fortress Wall: Journey back in time as you walk along a series of walls, signal mounds, and lookouts started in 1396 as a defense system against invaders.
  • Insadong tea house: Escape the hectic pace of the city as you sip tea in the calm and warm environment of a traditional tea house.
  • Lotte World: Spoil yourself with a visit to the recreation complex bursting with fun—theme park rides, ice skating rinks, cinemas, and live shows.


As an Asian-looking person who's not Korean, the most interesting experience has been people asking me for directions. When they realize I don't speak Korean well, they are bewildered. Even more so when I explain my parents aren't Korean either.


Shu-Hua Cheng UC Los Angeles Korea, South


I always heard people say study abroad changed their lives, but I didn't truly understand until I did it. There were moments I was confused, uncomfortable, and even frustrated and those didn't come close to the feelings of fulfillment, excitement, and pure happiness I felt throughout my time abroad!


Seikha Ghavidel UC Santa Barbara Korea, South


Study abroad can be lonely and scary. This trip will test you in ways you never asked for; and in return, the rewards are indescribable.


Naomi Chong UC Davis Korea, South


As a civil and environmental engineering major interested in natural landscapes, I enjoyed the discussions in my environmental planning class as well as visits to national parks such as Bukhan Mountain. There is so much to see in Seoul. The subway system is easy to use to get around. I love Korean food. Study abroad is definitely something undergraduates should experience, and both Yonsei and the city of Seoul have a lot to offer.


Erik Chang UC Los Angeles Civil and Environmental Engineering Korea, South


I had a wonderful time at Dreamfora as a software engineer intern. My role was to oversee the backend infrastructure and set up the testing module for our development team. I learned a lot about industry standards and tools that help run present-day applications. Much of this experience can't be gained in a classroom and it was extremely beneficial for me. Having the chance to intern in a Korean startup was also culturally enriching and I would highly recommend it.


Taehoon Kim UC Berkeley Computer Science Korea, South

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