Studying in Korea Opened up a New Career Path

Gabija Saniukaitė, a fourth-year student of East Asian Cultures and Languages at Vytautas Magnus University (VMU), realised after her bilateral exchange programme in Korea that her first bachelor’s degree was just part of a long-term learning process. She plans to continue her studies in Pedagogy, proving that authentic experiences abroad can open up new and perhaps unexpected future prospects.

Enjoys challenges

“Studying in Korea allowed me to experience life there and understand whether I could see myself living in that country. I realised that I couldn’t,” said the young woman, who is studying Korean at VMU. Having realised that life in Korea was not for her and that there was little demand for the Korean language in Lithuania, Gabija remembered her old dream of teaching and is now considering enrolling in a Pedagogy programme next year.

Gabija’s interest in Korean culture began in her teenage years while listening to K-pop music. “Generally, I’ve always been interested in cultures and languages that are completely different from ours. I tried learning Arabic and also studied Korean on my own at school. I enjoy challenges. I was also interested in Korean food, culture, and at that time, music,” Gabija laughs, noting that although she no longer listened to Korean pop music, her interest in the culture and language persisted when she enrolled at VMU.

The linguistically gifted student proved her talent in her first year of studies and was soon studying Korean with second-year students. “After the first semester, my teacher, realising I was getting bored in the lectures, suggested I switch to the second year. After passing the Korean language exam, by the next semester, I was studying with the second-year students,” Gabija recounts.

The university offered a surprising experience

It was then that she became interested in the exchange programmes offered by VMU and decided to try her hand in Korea. Gabija explains that although she was already familiar with the culture, it wasn’t her biggest challenge. According to her, there was significant pressure to study at the Korean university, with some students studying throughout the night in 24-hour libraries.

“Of course, it probably depends on the student’s attitude. There were certainly students who had plenty of time for socialising. Nevertheless, the Korean education system is very different and required some adaptation,” says Gabija, noting that she had no language issues as she was well-prepared – in addition to her studies, she had also taken private lessons with Koreans before her trip.

Settled for a year at Seoul University, the VMU student was pleased with the university’s modern infrastructure and that, like in any university campus, everything was within easy reach: dormitories, lecture halls, and shops. “The university itself is situated on a hill, so there was a lot of nature and parks around,” Gabija recounts.

Café culture

According to the young woman, although she had seen and read all sorts of information before her trip, nothing can truly prepare you for such a new stage in life. Like in many Asian countries, Koreans were reluctant to communicate in English, but Gabija was not lacking in knowledge of the local language.

“Seeing the only blonde on the street would attract attention, but they wouldn’t start a conversation themselves. If I began speaking in Korean, they would be surprised and start asking where I learned to speak so well, what I was doing here, whether I was studying or working,” the young woman recounts. 

Although Gabija did not have much free time because of her studies, she found time to explore Seoul. According to her, in the modern city of 10 million people, it is certainly possible to find cosy places that have preserved their traditions.

“If you want to escape from the traffic and crowded streets, you can definitely find quiet places. Café culture is very popular in Korea, and each café is very different from the next. But in all of them, you’ll find the Koreans’ favourite drink – iced Americano,” says Gabija, adding that Korea is famous for its desserts, although many Europeans might find some of the main dishes hard to digest.

Having spent the last year learning the Korean language, Gabija is now focused on completing her bachelor’s degree and later looks forward to new experiences. She is convinced that students should take advantage of the opportunities offered by the university to challenge themselves, as this may be the only way to discover the path to their dream career.