Ever since I started enrolling in my bachelor’s degree at Universitas Gadjah Mada, I have dreamt of joining a student exchange program with one of UGM’s partner universities in developed countries. Studying abroad will allow university students like me to gain new perspectives on the world, broaden our cultural knowledge, and experience a new educational environment.
South Korea has been one of the top study destinations for students worldwide, with more than 30 of its universities in the global top 1000. One of South Korea’s finest universities is Jeonbuk National University (JBNU), located in Jeonju. JBNU has been collaborating with Universitas Gadjah Mada for years and has consistently offered a 1-semester student exchange program for UGM students. Every year, they provide 2 opportunities for international students to study at their university, which are carried out in the spring and fall periods. This time, I joined JBNU’s Spring 2026 student exchange program that ranges from February 27th to June 20th, 2026, which is equivalent to approximately four months’ worth of time. I was joined by 24 other UGM students from different faculties, all with the same spirit, excited to embark on a new adventure in South Korea.
This program includes a variety of different activities, some of which are academic and some of which are not academic. Aside from that, this program also results in positive aspects that can be taken, such as the positive culture or habits of the Korean people. Some habits I learned from my Korean friends is they are disciplined about time and have strong determination in their work/study.
JBNU provides a lot of wonderful facilities that exchange students like me can use and enjoy. An adequate dormitory, dining hall, beautiful football and track fields, and lots of jogging and cycling tracks. Students also get access to academic accounts at JBNU, a variety of tours that are facilitated by JBNU, and a selection of insurance options. This program alone offers a scholarship that covers almost 50% of the dormitory and weekday meals’ cost. Universitas Gadjah Mada, through the Directorate of Partnerships and Global Relations (DKRG), also gives a chance for outgoing students to get a scholarship that will cover administrative costs and the remaining living expenses.
Academic Activities
The academic activities offered are in the form of lectures; exchange students can take up to 18 credits, excluding Korean language classes. I took a total of 18 credits, which are classes related to my major, which is food technology, and the Korean language class too. 
Non-Academic Activities
Besides schoolwork, I enjoy participating in student clubs like the international community club and a Christian students community. I made a lot of new Korean friends, as well as other international friends. In that period of time, I joined international gatherings, picnics, and other cultural events. 
Benefits
Learning Korean culture is really an eye-opening experience, and it’s one of the most important benefits that I got during my 4-month student exchange program. Before going to Korea, I really had no clue about Korean culture. I just knew that South Korea has a really wonderful and special culture that made people worldwide fans of it. The fact that I got the chance to study and spend 4 months of my life in South Korea taught me a lot about life. I had the opportunity to experience the study life in a developed country, participating in cultural activities, and socializing with new friends from different countries. This experience allowed me to reflect more on life and also gain a deeper understanding of life in a beautiful developed country.
The other great benefit that I got from joining this program is that I got a chance to develop my language-learning skills. From the first time I got the news that I got accepted into this program, I started learning the Korean language. I was and am eager to learn a new language, and learning Korean was a very fun learning experience. Learning a language while being in the country allowed me to study the language very fast and enjoy the learning process, especially by talking to my Korean friends.
Koreans are also famous for their hardworking and discipline attributes. Being a student at a Korean university teaches me that hard work is an important trait that students should have. My lecturers and my Korean friends are also really discipline about time, and it taught me a lot about how to be a better person. These traits are really crucial, especially for a university student who will enter the “real” world when we are working later.
Last but not least, the friendships I made along the way are the things I will never forget, and I will hold dearly close to my heart forever. I was able to make a lot of new friends, especially from the Christian community club, that I will never forget. They welcomed me and my friends, and helped us a lot in adapting to Korean life. I am really grateful for them, and will definitely keep in touch with all of my Korean close friends. 
In conclusion, my student exchange program in South Korea was an exceptional experience that offered a lot of useful benefits. I was able to learn about a new culture, gain language skills, and develop special friendships. I highly recommend this experience to anyone who dreams of joining a student exchange program to South Korea. Special thanks to the “Hibah Pertukaran Mahasiswa Internasional untuk Inbound dan Outbound (Skema EQUITY) tahun 2025/2026 Tahap 2” for funding and supporting this exchange program.
Written and Reported by: Gabriel Kristano