Successful 2015 Yonsei International Summer School Concludes

-Unique Program Combines Top-Quality International Faculty

with Cultural Experiences and Internship Opportunities

On August 6, Yonsei International Summer School’s (YISS) six-week program ended, and based upon student surveys, there was a high level of satisfaction this year. Part of this was due to YISS’s ongoing efforts to modify the curriculum in order to better meet student interests and expectations. As such, this summer there were more courses offered in areas related to Korean and East Asian studies than in years past.

One of these courses, the Modern Asia Seminar, focused on foreign policy and national security issues and international relations between Korea, China, and Japan. The seminar was team-taught by Professor Victor Cha from Georgetown University, Professor Christina Davis from Princeton University, and Professor David Kang from the University of Southern California. According to Professor Cha, who is the former U.S. National Security Council Asia Department Director, “YISS allows students to approach issues in international studies through various perspectives. On average, the participating students are highly competitive and create sophisticated discussions. At the same time, the quality of the teaching faculty, administration, and curriculum is very high.”

By enrollment, the most popular course at YISS was Korean Cinema, taught by Professor Steven Jung. YISS officials believe that this was related to the growing interest in Korean popular culture worldwide; in fact, almost one-third of this summer’s YISS students took Korean Cinema.

Korea Summer Internship Program

In addition to the courses offered at YISS, students had the opportunity to take part in the Korea Summer Internship Program (KSIP). This summer, students were able to intern at Korean corporations and institutes such as Hyundai Construction, Woori Bank, Asan Institute, and the Korea Science and Technology Research Institute.

Susung Kim, a student from New York University, participated in an internship at the Korea Development Bank through KSIP. Of the experience, he said: “The internship allowed me to examine the vision and growth of a Korean finance corporation. I experienced work culture in Korea through the internship and learned how the employees communicated with each other. The experience gave me a new image regarding Korean society.”

DMZ Tour and Special Events

YISS also organized a special field trip to the DMZ as part of the program, which included visits to Imjingak, the Third Infiltration Tunnel, the Dora Viewing Point, and Provence Village in Paju. Other field trips, tours, and events were offered as well. Many YISS students participated in the Sinchon Water Gun Festival, where they were able to mix with other students and young Koreans.

YISS was established in 1985, making this its thirtieth anniversary. It has evolved into one of the best summer programs in Asia, and it continues to attract large numbers of students from around the world.