A new winter vacation for college students from around the world 

KU opens the International Winter Campus, the largest international winter campus in Korea

KU IWC is expected to build fame, following KU ISC

The International Winter Campus (IWC) of Korea University, the largest international winter campus ever in Korea, has opened. 

The IWC started its six-week course, consisting of two three-week sessions, on December 28, 2016.

Over 300 students from some 100 universities in 30 countries, including Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, and U.S., are participating in the IWC’s premier session.

The six-week program was kicked off with the 2017 IWC Orientation at the SUPEX Hall in the KU LG-POSCO Business School Building on December 28 at 9am. Students participated in the orientation, received their student ID card for the program, and greeted each other, quickly getting to know their fellow students. 

Kim Sunhyuk, Vice President for International Affairs and Dean of International Winter Campus, said, “I want to thank you for your pioneering spirit to attend the first course of the IWC.” He added, “I firmly believe that the IWC will build fame, following the International Summer Campus, which has served as the largest and the most innovative international summer campus in Asia over the past 12 years. I hope that the KU IWC will offer you a good experience and memories to cherish.”

May Jungpakdee from Australia expressed particular interest in the Korean language and culture, saying “I want to learn a lot about Korean culture and Koreans during this course.”

Sara AlAhmadi from UAE, who is visiting Korea for the second time after the KU International Summer Campus (ISC) in June this year, said, “While studying Korean back in UAE, I developed a lot of interest in Korea. I’m here again to learn more about Korea through engaging in exchanges with Koreans.”

The faculty members of the IWC include academics from King’s College London in the UK as well as KU, who will teach over 20 subjects, including business, economics, humanities, science, and Korean language. 

On top of the academic offerings by renowned academics, the IWC provides an excellent opportunity for students to learn about Korea through cultural immersion during the winter months. The students from countries without winter seasons, like Singapore, are excited to participate in outdoor activities to enjoy winter. There are field trips, including not only a ski and skate trip, but also Korean cuisine, basketball, and calligraphy outings.

KU will also offer participants a buddy program in order to promote their exchanges with KU students, thereby helping them foster an international mindset and smoothly adjust themselves to their new environment.

KU has held the ISC every summer since 2004. Having grown in scale over the last 13 years, the ISC attracted 1,860 students this year, the largest ever in its history.

The KU IWC is expected to build its reputation as the ISC has done. 

Dean Kim said, “Vacation will no longer remain as a period for students at home and abroad to stop studying. Instead, it will serve as a term for them to experience new things.” He also added, “I hope that you will take this opportunity to grow into future global leaders through academic and cultural immersion while learning about Korea and various cultures and getting to know fellow students from across the world”