In this interview, Mr. Byeongjun Lee, the Manager of the Office of International at Gachon University, gladly agreed to have an interview for stuvisor.com to discuss the International Student Program.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Person: Interview

 

Mr. ByeongJun Lee

 

Manager, Office of International

Gachon University

 

@ South Korea

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stuvisor.com: Thank you for your time with the interview. we’d like to introduce Gachon to those international students who are considering studying in Korea. Could you please first introduce Gachon university?

 

 

Mr.Lee: Glad to meet you. There are numerous words to describe Gachon University. We are a top 3 university in the capital area with 2 million enrolled students. A sound and substantial university that attracts 3 main projects (ACE+, LINC, CK-II) of the Ministry of Education adding LINK+ project (Industrial-Education cooperation leading university). An Urban University where you can reach campus from Gangnam within 20 mins.

 

 

 

 

 

Gachon University Campus

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stuvisor.com: As Korean and Korean culture are getting popular all around the world, Kachin recently opened ‘K department. What we know is that mainly Chinese students study Korean culture and Social studies in this department. Could you please give us details about this K department, how are the curriculum and any specific requirements to prepare in advance?

 

 

Mr.Lee: With 2-year intensive language education, those students with a beginner level of Korean can improve their Korean in short term, and seek a career opportunity as a Korean expert as they thoroughly learn Korean Economy, Society, Culture, and Arts. On top of that, you can build your own competitiveness as you can have a double major based on your interest, and you can get 2 degrees after graduation.

 

 

 

In order to apply to this department, you have to fully complete high school and receive a Korean course for 3-6 months.

 

 

 

 

K department Curriculum in Chinese, Gachon Office of International

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stuvisor.com: Can non-Chinese international students also apply to this department?

 

 

Mr.Lee: K department which newly opens in 2020 March is mainly subject to Chinese students. However, we open up the possibility to those non-Chinese students as it opens for the first time.

 

 

 

 

Stuvisor.com I guess good command of Korean is necessary in order to complete K department. Is there additional Korean class, program, or ways to improve Korean for those K-department students, or other international students?

 

 

Mr.Lee: Gachon is now running its own Korean Language center under International Office, as a TOPIK(Test of Proficiency in Korean) testing place. We provide well-managed classes for all levels of fluency and various cultural experience for those newly arrived in Korea in order to settle well in both Korea and University. 

 

 

Including K department, all international students can take intensive Korean classes during the semester or on vacation in the Korean centre.

 

 

 

 

 

Gachon Korean Language Class, Gachon Office of International

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stuvisor.com: The program and Curriculum are very well developed for international students! I’m wondering how many international students are currently enrolled in Gachon, and where are they from?

 

 

Mr.Lee: In Gachon, 1,300 international students including Language, Undergraduate, and graduates are currently enrolled. Most of the students are from China but the ratio is getting more diverse as more and more students are coming from Mongolia, Vietnam, and Uzbekistan. Gachon will strive to attract more students from Asian countries, including Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, Nepal, and Myanmar) 

 

 

 

 

 

Gachon University Gil Hospital, Gachon University

 

 

 

 

Stuvisor.com: Gachon is famous for Medical College and Nursing College. Can International students apply and study in those colleges? If so, do they need special requirements for entrance?

 

 

Mr.Lee: We’re currently accepting international students in Nursing and Physical Therapy, and Radiological Science in the Medical department. The demand for Studying in Korea is rising in China in medical care such as in the Nursing workforce. Including Korea Top 3 Gil Medical Center, Gachon University has numerous field practice opportunities and professional faculty. For those international students who are aspiring to a medical career, we provide University Consulting to have the right decision on their aptitude and future career.

 

 

 

 

 

Mr. ByeongJun Lee, China

 

 

 

 

 

Stuvisor.com: Gachon also offers various types of scholarships for international students. For example, there’s a 40% fee reduction for international students. Are there any more ways to get a scholarship or any financial aid apart from School fees?

 

 

Mr.Lee: Gachon is ranked as the Top 5 universities in Korea for Scholarships. We try to provide equal benefits to International students as well. Apart from a 40% fee reduction, we provide 15~25% of additional scholarships to those who have TOPIK scores. On top of this, we prioritize Freshman and Language courses for international students and provide a certain amount of living expenses to lessen students’ financial burden. Also, international students can have a complimentary health check-up in Gachon University’s Gil Hospital and Students Insurance is all covered during the period of attendance at university.   

 

 

 

 

 

Gachon Cross Cultural Expereince, Gachon International Office

 

 

 

 

 

Stuvisor.com: Let’s move on to the outside of campus. Gachon recently was selected for ‘Korean-International students cooperation’ project run by the Korea Ministry of Gender Equality and Family. How can international students apply for this program and what kinds of benefits can they gain from it?

 

 

Mr.Lee: Through Korea Ministry’s budget support for International Youth leader Exchange Project, we will select 100 students to match 1 international student-1 Korean student for various cultural exchange activities. Those activities include Visiting historic places, the Gachon Brain research center or Clinic center, and making a presentation or content under the theme of History, Culture, Science, etc. to freely exchange different opinions and increase the understanding of mutual culture. We expect this can be a great opportunity for both domestic and international students to grow as global leader proudly representing their own countries.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stuvisor.com: If you have any words you want to share with us about Gachon, please tell us!

 

 

Mr.Lee: Gachon has a Global center in Hawaii that opened in 2012. We’re actively working on broadening opportunities to learn English and exchange culture even to international students, which is currently provided only to domestic students. You can have a language learning opportunity in Hawaii while studying in Korea. Don’t you think it’s appealing?

 

 

 

 

Gachon Hawaii center, Gachon University

 

 

 

 

Stuvisor.com: Thank you for giving us detailed information about Gachon.