Hello. Please introduce yourself and tell us what you are studying or working on in Korea.

Hello! I am an international student studying mechanical engineering in Korea. When I first came to Korea, I was interested in IT, so I planned to study in that field. However, as I studied, I became more interested in mechanical engineering, so I changed my major. Mechanical engineering is a discipline that combines theory and practice, so there are many parts that I can learn through hands-on experience through experiments or projects, so it is very interesting and fun. I am currently studying this discipline in Korea and gaining various experiences.

As a foreign student or visitor living in Korea, have you had any difficulties or issues finding accommodation or housing (including dormitories)? If there were any inconveniences such as monthly or deposit rent, please feel free to tell us.

When I first came to Korea, finding accommodation was quite difficult. In particular, I had an experience where I was rejected from boarding houses because I was a foreigner. The boarding house owners were mostly elderly people, and they thought that I might have trouble communicating with foreigners, so they didn't even accept my application. That experience was really sad and difficult.

Also, when I was trying to start living on my own, the monthly rent and deposit were very burdensome. In Korea, the jeonse system is common, but for me, a foreigner, finding a jeonse was more complicated and difficult. Fortunately, as time passed, a new type of housing called a share house emerged, so now there are more options. I think a share house is a good choice for foreign students because the deposit and monthly rent are less burdensome, and the living environment looks comfortable.

So how can these inconveniences be improved? If you have any thoughts, please let me know, but if not, that's fine.

I think it is important to solve communication issues so that international students can find accommodations in Korea more easily. In the case of boarding houses, it would be good to have a mediator or platform that can help with communication to reduce anxiety caused by language barriers or cultural differences when accepting international students. Also, it would be helpful if there were more services that provide share houses exclusively for foreigners or more diverse housing options.

And in the case of dormitories, cooking is a big issue for international students. There are many cases where they miss their home country’s food even while they are in Korea, so it would be good to have an environment where they can cook simple meals. Increasing the cooking area in the dormitory or providing a small kitchen space that can be used in common could be one solution.

Advice for friends who are preparing to study abroad or visit Korea for a long period of time!

I would like to give some advice to my friends who are preparing to study abroad or visit Korea for a long period of time.

First, life in Korea changes faster than you think and offers a variety of experiences, so it is important to have a flexible mindset and an open mind . There may be unexpected difficulties in the process of adapting to a new culture and environment, but if you accept them positively, you can learn a lot.

Second, it is good to thoroughly prepare for housing issues in advance . Korea's housing culture has various systems such as jeonse, monthly rent, and deposits, so it is necessary to study in advance and prepare an appropriate budget. Also, try to make good use of alternatives such as share houses and dormitories.

Lastly, is there anything you would like to say to the Kikine family?

I want to express my gratitude to the Kikine family. Whenever I face various challenges while studying in Korea, I read the Kikine dormitory articles and sympathize and gain necessary information. I want to continue to study hard, communicate with various people, and grow even more. Kikine family, always stay healthy and happy! 😊