In the 4 weeks I’ve been a part of this study abroad journey across South Korea, I’ve learned a lot about Smart Cities and their overall impact on the urban population across Seoul, Sejong, and Busan. I would have never imagined how impactful this journey would have been prior to the start of my trip, and it has forever changed my perspective on subjects I had always been against. The most surprising thing I learned about myself was that I actually enjoy slowing down and taking in the small details, especially when faced with a barrage of a fast-paced schedule. I really thought I’d be bored at least once during the trip, but on the contrary, I actually wanted to be bored so I could fully take in my thoughts and better reflect on my understanding and goals throughout the trip. The only thing I could think about when I arrived back in my room every afternoon was sleep.
Starting in Seoul, I got my first look at a new environment after a very long plane trip. Everything looked so dense and alive. It was very unexpected to see how massive the architecture was and how it spanned across so much of the urban space while highlighting itself through its modernized details. Most notably, the Paris Baguette that was part of the hostel I was staying at looked insanely aesthetic. It looked more like commercial advertisement food than actual food sold in bulk. I wondered if it was a modernized industry practice that the USA hasn’t utilized that allowed this establishment to sell sandwiches that looked so beautiful. Sidewalk crossings had LED stoplights embedded in the ground that spanned the width of the crosswalk to help with navigation. Exploring more of the city revealed massive screens embedded into the buildings. Near the end of our stay in Seoul, we visited a river that had historically been a highway before being transformed into what it is today. It was amazing to see nature so smartly integrated within a city space.
Going to Sejong and attending seminars as a group, we learned more about the practicality that Smart City infrastructure can offer. We learned that CCTV cameras weren’t mainly for the government to keep a strict eye on people. They are genuinely utilized for various purposes that the public can access, such as checking population density in different areas to avoid congestion. I was originally against this idea, but seeing the city landscape be so active and unproblematic during my night walks changed my original opinion on public surveillance. I also found that it helped keep littering in check, since trash wasn’t commonly seen on the streets.
Finally, we went to our last destination, Busan. Here we stayed in the dorms at PNU. Most memorably, we explored the pilot Smart City district named Eco Delta. We learned a lot about Smart City design, and the purpose of the pilot program in that district, where residents received free rent in return for providing data about their living experience. However, we also learned that funding for the city had been cut, and as a result, much of the district lacked the maintenance it needed. I spent the rest of my free time hanging out with the cohort and joining the PNU students for dinner after our seminars. They were so cool! They helped us book activities and plan around the city, especially since some services are not foreigner-friendly. Booking appointments in advance often required Korean phone numbers or other Korean services that foreigners typically can’t access.
It was bittersweet during the final days of the program. I did not expect to enjoy visiting South Korea as much as I did, and I felt that I could have easily stayed even longer. Being welcomed by the PNU students and having the time of my life exploring made this an experience I’ll never forget. I learned that I definitely do not get homesick, that my appreciation for cuisine changes when I’m abroad, but most importantly, I found that experiencing another culture became an entry point toward being more open to trying to challenge my own views that are derived from my own culture, as well as overall being more healthy with accepting changes and customs I typically wouldn’t have been open to back at home.
