Mississippi State University students can learn about information technology and Korean culture in the 2011 Korean Study Tour.
On April 29, 2011, J. P. Shim, professor of management and information systems, will take 28 undergraduate students and 12 graduate students on a two-week tour of South Korea. Students will visit its capital, Seoul, receive educational seminars from several Korean universities and watch presentations from KIA/Hyundai Motors and Samsung.
The trip will also include an underground visit to the Korean Demilitarized Zone, which is near the North and South Korean border.
“This is an eye-opening opportunity,” Shim said. “Many [students] aren’t exposed to an international environment. We are going to let our students learn something new, something different from other societies, especially South Korea.”
The trip is part of MSU’s Global Leadership Program and is in its fifth year. Participating students will receive MSU course credit on their transcripts after completing the tour.
Shim said South Korea is leading in information technology, cultural richness and sometimes education.
He said students who have participated in the tour, especially in the Samsung presentation, found America was not as far ahead in information technology development as they thought.
Brandon Deering, business administration graduate student, participated in a previous Korean study tour and found the country to be technologically advanced.
“Electronics play a huge part in their everyday lives,” Deering said. “The family that I stayed with had a computerized toilet that took care of cleaning and deodorizing.”
Students who have participated in the Korea Study Tour from previous years have been able to network and find internships in South Korea.
The trip costs $1,850, covering airfare, lodging, most meals, most admission fees and the education seminars. Fees are due by Jan. 13, 2011.
Shim said the price is low because MSU has a sponsorship in South Korea.
A valid passport is required to enter Korea. Students are not required to have a visa for the trip.
Out of the 40 students, Shim will choose five chaperones who will correspond with him daily through e-mail about the well-being of the students. A local travel guide will also accompany students, he said.
The trip will begin in Seoul, where students will receive a tour of the city, including Seoul Tower and Insadong, one of the largest shopping districts for artwork and antiques in the capital, Shim said.
Amy Lea, senior majoring in international business and accounting, participated in the Korean study tour and said Seoul Tower is the landmark of the capitol.
“You just see the entire vast and beautiful city from Seoul Tower,” she said.
There is a gate on the tower where sweethearts attach love padlocks. Lea said there were millions of them and they were the most interesting part of the tower.
After visiting Kyunghee University for a global leadership seminar and Korea University Business School, students will be split into five groups and assigned to different universities in different cities across South Korea, Shim said.
After a week at the universities, students will embark on the KIA/Hyundai Motors and Samsung Tours and attend more Korean culture and business seminars.
Deering said he saw Samsung’s future and current products during its presentation.
“Generally speaking, their cell phone technology is two years ahead of ours,” he said.
In the next few days, Shim will host the event “Seoul Night Explorer” where students will meet with former MSU Korean exchange students or college students who will show them around town.
The tour will then visit the DMZ of South Korea, where there is a tourist spot in the underground tunnels where North Korea attempted to invade.
“The Demilitarized Zone means kind of a hot area, because they have some tension over there [between] North and South Korea. We are going to see what’s going on,” Shim said. “We sometimes learn about what kind of politics North and South Korea [have], especially North Korea. Kim Jong Il’s son just took over.”
Shim said he prefers for students interested in joining the tour to have good communication skills, leadership experience and a good background in information technology.
After reviewing applications, a committee will begin scheduling interviews for those interested in joining the tour. Finalists will be announced at the end of the semester or early January.
Upon returning from the trip, Shim requires students to submit a two-page report, titled “Lessons from Korea Study Tour,” about their experiences.
Deering said he enjoyed participating in the tour.
“I am generally not a culturally diverse person, so it was a unique experience for me,” he said. “I got to see first-hand how they live, because I stayed with a host family. I was able to experience their culture first hand.”
A general interest meeting will take place on Oct. 28 in Room 234 in McCool Hall at 5 p.m.