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Here’s what happened at the Korean Government Scholarship Program Orientation

Around 400 of us, scholars, attended the Korean Government Scholarship Program orientation at Commodore Hotel in Gyeongju last August 30-31. We came from various countries around the world to pursue Masters and Doctoral degrees here in South Korea. The reason for this program is to promote mutual understanding between South Korea and other countries.

Passers of TOPIK level 5-6 don’t need to take the one-year mandatory Korean language course. This mean, they could start their degree right away. Those who didn’t will have to complete the language program and pass the TOPIK level 3 to start the degree. The designated language schools are Inha University, Jeonju University, Keimyung University, Sunkyumkwan University, and Silla University.

Korean Government Scholarship Program Orientation group photo
KGSP Batch 2013 group photo with the NIIED staff
Korean Government Scholarship Program Orientation

During the program, NIIED officials and a few KGSP alumni shared words of encouragement. They told us to be passionate in learning the Korean language and to practice it day by day. But, they kept reminding us the difficulties of passing the TOPIK 3 exam. Instead of worrying about my Korean skill, I felt challenged to do my best.

Say, I am so lucky to accept a great challenge here in Korea.

tae yoon ha, niied president

After the orientation, some scholars volunteered to perform for the talent show. Some of them danced K-pop or traditional dance from their country, while others sang Korean and English songs. I wanted to sing a song but I didn’t prepare anything (plus, I only sing inside the noraebang or inside the bathroom), maybe I’ll do it if there’s an opportunity next time!

Sincerity and honesty always works.

jin hyung kim
Korean Government Scholarship Program Orientation Talent show participants
The talent show participants received a gift from NIIED.
Korean Government Scholarship Program Orientation – Post Activities

The program finished around 9 o’ clock in the evening. After the program, we gathered in small groups based on the language institute we belong and went out of the hotel. Gyeongju is an impressive destination; unfortunately, there’s nothing else you can do there at night. There were no nearby tourist spots in Commodore Hotel nor were there any thing that catches our interest.

We ended up in a mini bar called Titanic. I introduced so-ju (distilled alcohol) and maek-ju (Korean beer) to my companions as not many of them have been to Korea unlike me. I told them that soju is a strong drink; however, when they drank it, many said it was too soft and asked me “Have you ever tried vodka?”, “No” I replied. This question struck me and I kept thinking if I should try vodka someday. I felt a little embarrassed, I am not an alcohol drinker – I only knew how to drink alcohol when I first came to Korea. While many of them drank beer and soju, I tried to stay away from it because we had to wake up at 6AM the next day.

Anyway, it started to rain and so, we decided to go back to the hotel and that is how our Orientation Day ended.

Other photos from the orientation:

Korean Government Scholarship Program Orientation photo
Jeonju Superstars – we were the first to arrive so we almost had nothing to do but read the booklet while waiting.
Talent show during the Korean Government Scholarship Program Orientation
Talent show during the Orientation: Several middle school/ high school students came to perform Korean Traditional dance.
Friends at the Table - Korean Government Scholarship Program Orientation
Some of Jeonju Superstars: (left to right – front) Maria, Kenza, Me, Sheyla, Anton, Gabriel, Emely, and Rimma. (behind us) Stephanie and Elena.
Korean Government Scholarship Program Post-Orientation night out with Jeonju Superstars and Friends!
Post-Orientation night out with Jeonju Superstars and Friends!
My roomates at Commodore Hotel - both are Marias :) Korean Government Scholarship Program Orientation
My roomates at Commodore Hotel – both are Marias 🙂
Korean Government Scholarship Program Orientation
(left to right) Me, and Marias – lovely roomates during the orientation.
Commodore Hotel at Night - Korean Government Scholarship Program Orientation
Commodore Hotel at Night – It has a curfew (around 12midnight) and the appliances inside the room looked ancient (i mean — old). Also, they didn’t have fluorescent light only yellow lamps. Wifi inside the rooms were not good either. Therefore, the reviews we found at tripadvisor.com were somehow proven true 🙁

4 Comments

  • chirag
    February 14, 2014 at 1:57 pm

    Hey, just a small question:
    Where did they take you immediately after receiving you at the airport? to your university’s dorm or to a hotel?

    Reply
    • splurk
      February 14, 2014 at 6:27 pm

      They took us immediately to our dorm 🙂

      Reply
  • Daniel
    July 5, 2013 at 8:19 pm

    Hi, I am in this year’s KGSP class, and I had a question for you:
    When you entered Korea, did you fly straight to the city of your language institution first, and then go to the KGSP Orientation in Gyeongju all together (once everybody had arrived)? Or did you go straight to Gyeongju from the airport?
    Thanks for the help!

    Reply
    • splurk
      July 13, 2013 at 5:37 pm

      Hi Daniel! first of all, congrats on being a KGSP scholar (i hope you won’t change your decision ;p). Well, most of us arrived days before the orientation. In our case, a staff from Jeonju uni fetched us at the airport and brought us to our dorm. Then, during the day of the orientation, all KGSPs in jeonju went to gyeongju together by bus which was prepared by the school.

      Sorry for the late reply~ I hope I have answered your question 🙂

      Reply

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