Have you ever seen international students while taking classes or walking around the streets on campus? At the University of Ulsan, you can see not only Korean students but also many international students from various nationalities. Today, I met and interviewed Deokseong Lee, a Chinese student studying abroad at the University of Ulsan. 

▲ Interview with Deokseong Lee, a Chinese international student

(the source is from Kim Eunseo Reporter)

▶Q: Hello. Do you mind if I ask you to introduce yourself? 
▶A: Hello. Nice to meet you. My name is Deokseong Lee and I am a senior majoring in International Relations. I like playing table tennis and badminton on the weekends.

▶Q: Nice to meet you. Is there a reason why you chose Korea out of so many different countries? 
▶A: In high school in China, I learned about the culture of the Silla period (Silla Dynasty) in Korean history, King Sejong the Great, and Hangul, and I became interested in it after that. So, while learning more about Korea, I came across Korean food and K-pop and decided that I wanted to come to Korea.

▶Q: Is there a special reason why you chose Ulsan out of the many regions in Korea? 
▶A: I knew a member of the Ulsan International Exchange Team in high school. I came to Ulsan because someone recommended Professor Wang Jing. 

▶Q: Are there any conditions necessary to become an international student in Korea?
▶A: To come to Korea, you have to pass TOPIK 3. I was able to come to Korea after passing TOPIK 3 at a Chinese high school.

▶Q: I heard that Hangul is an easy language to learn. Did you actually feel that way while studying Korean? 

▶A: Yes, of course. Hangul is easy, so it wasn't difficult to read and speak the letters. However, the long sentences and grammar were difficult. 

▶Q: I think that grammar is difficult no matter what language you learn. Of course, you learned Korean in China, but I think it may be difficult to understand university lectures with a lot of technical terms. How do you study?
▶A: Most of my classes are in Chinese or English. So, there are no major difficulties. However, when I take Korean lectures, I ask the professor about things I don’t understand or study online. 

▶Q: Are there any activities for international students other than classes at the university? 
▶A: Yes, Professor Wang Jing has a lot of recommendations. This week, I will visit SK Energy company and learn about ESG. Also, next week, I will go to Taehwa River to experience paddle boarding. 

▶Q: Do you interact a lot with Korean students? 
▶A: Yes. Since Chinese classes are mainly conducted in teams, I often interact with Korean students. Also, when I go to SK Energy and Taehwa River, I will be in a group with Korean students. 

▶Q: Are there any inconveniences in your life? 
▶A: There were no major difficulties, but it was difficult to adapt to the new environment. It's a bit difficult when ordering food at a restaurant. The Korean I hear all of the time is fast and not the standard language, so I can't understand it well. So I write my choice down and order it at the restaurant. Another thing is that I go back to China every vacation. I feel lonely because I haven't seen my family and friends for a long time. 

▶Q: I think you would be very lonely if you had to spend several months alone. How do you deal with this loneliness? 

▶A: I travel with my roommates. Recently, I went to Seoul and Busan. 

▶Q: Did you experience any inconveniences when reserving train tickets? 

▶A: The train reservation site supports Chinese, so I was able to easily reserve the train.

▶Q: You seem to be very close with your roommates (laughter). Is there anything special you do with your roommates? 
▶A: We like tteokbokki. So, we made and ate tteokbokki a few days ago. 

▶Q: Malatang and Tanghulu are popular in Korea right now. So, a lot of new menu items called Mala Tteokbokki are coming out. Do people eat Malatang and Tanghulu a lot in China? 
▶A: Yes, Tanghulu is usually sold at the gate in front of schools, and students buy a lot of it on their way home from school. Malatang is also eaten a lot in China. Korean and Chinese malatang are similar, but China has a much wider variety of vegetables and malatangs. Tomato Malatang and Sesame Malatang are also sold in China.

▶Q: Thank you very much for the interview. Do you have any advice for international students? 
▶A: I think it would be a good idea to study various Korean cultures and the Korean language before coming to Korea.

 So far, I have listened to an interview with a Chinese student studying abroad. While interviewing this international student, I found it interesting to hear stories about university life from the international student's perspective, and I was proud and entertained that I felt like I got a little closer to the international students through this opportunity. I also had a small wish that there would be time for international and Korean students to interact. I hope that this interview will answer some of the questions international students may have.