South Korea is diverse; in addition to Samsung, kimchi and K-pop, the small country in East Asia has a lot to offer. With the "Partner country of the month" campaign, we want to shine a spotlight on the countries and partner universities of TU Dresden, which are not always the first choice of our exchange students.

General facts and figures about South Korea

Capital: Seoul
Population: 51.6 million
Official language: Korean
National holiday: August 15 (independence from Japan, 1945)
Currency: South Korean won (₩) 1€ = 1347 won and 48 chŏn
A short language course:
Hello - 안녕하세요! (An-nyeong-ha-se-yo!)
My name is... - 저는 ...라고 합니다 (Jeo-neun ... ra-go ham-ni-da.)
What does ... cost? - ...얼마입니까? ...(eol-ma-im-ni-kka?)
Cheers! - 건배! Geon-bae!
(You can find an online course with YouTube videos at TTMIK - Talk to me in Korean, for example)

You can learn Korean in Dresden e.g. at TUDIAS or at the VHS . But don't worry, there are English-language courses at universities in South Korea.

You can find more facts and figures on wikipedia, Visit Korea or Statista, for example.

© Enrico Barth

Did you know that ....?

- Parasite is the first non-English language film to win an Oscar for Best Picture?

- (yes, they do...) Dog has been a traditional dish in Korea for centuries? Even though dogs are now a controversial ingredient in Asian countries, there are various dishes in South Korea. So if you happen to come across bosintang soup or nureongi at the street market, you're in the know...

- Korean roofs traditionally end in curves to symbolize a smile?

- 20% of Koreans have the same surname? Kim, Lee or Park are the "Müllers" and "Meiers" of Korea.

- that babies in Korea are born as one-year-olds? This counting method often leads to confusion internationally.

- South Korea has the fastest internet? The average download speed is 88.01 Mbps. In comparison: in Saxony it is: 11.83 Mbps.

- Seoul is the capital of plastic surgery? Between 1/5 and 1/3 of Seoul's female residents have gone under the knife at least once. South Korean men also attach great importance to their appearance and spend around 900 million dollars a year on it (20% of global sales for men's cosmetics).

- that around 100 new K-pop bands debut every year, but only 5% are successful? One who has made it is G-Dragon, whose provocative clothing style has led to him appearing at Chanel, Gucci and Alexander McQueen fashion shows in Europe.

© Julia Paternoster

- Tetraphobia is widespread in Korea? As the word for the number 4 is similar to the word for "death", it is largely avoided.

- K-pop is also becoming increasingly popular in the West? Features by the Chainsmokers, Kanye West or Snoop Dog with well-known K-pop stars and appearances in popular American shows, such as Black Pink or BTS (are you Team Jimin too? ;).

Cooperations with the TU Dresden

You can find an overview of all TU Dresden cooperations that you can use for your exchange in our database. It is also often worth asking professors in your own faculty who have direct contacts to the desired partner university.

© Julia Paternoster

Central student exchange with Korean universities:

• Seoul National University
• Dankook University (in Yongin in the greater Seoul area)
• Pohang University of Science and Technology

Don't miss...

© Enrico Barth

The four royal palaces in the north of Seoul: If you come in traditional Korean dress, you get in free. For non-Koreans, there is also the option of using a rental service to walk through the palace gardens in the traditional way (to take great photos).

Experience history up close: once a battlefield, now a unique natural space. The border between North and South Korea forms the approx. 4 km wide demilitarized zone (DMZ), which has consolidated the separation of South and North Korea since the armistice in 1953.

Jeju-du, South Korea's largest island: a natural paradise with lava caves, impressive flora and fauna, surrounded by emerald blue sea.

© Julia Paternoster

Jagalchi market: the world-famous fish market in Busan can be reached by train, for example - if you've seen Train to Busan, that is ;)

Seoul is often referred to as a gigantic shopping mall: in the lively Myeongdong, the city's largest shopping district, you can get an authentic impression. A little tip: don't miss out on the street food!

Let's cook...

Typical Korean dishes that are also well-known here include bibimbap and kimchi. As a simple dish, mega hip and easy to "cook", we opted for Ramdon (aka Jjapaguri). The purists among you will be horrified (understandably!), but we think it's delicious and student-friendly ;) If you don't know the scene, you can watch it again: https://youtu.be/z-GA8-E_Xko but we recommend watching the whole movie anyway!

© Julia Paternoster

You will need:

• 1 pack of Nongshim Chapagetti (짜파게티)
• 1 pack of Nongshim Neoguri Noodles (너구리)
• 1 steak

You can find instructions at: https://www.maangchi.com/recipe/jjapaguri You can also watch a video .

You can easily get Korean instant noodles in Asian markets in Dresden or online.

Contact

Have you had a great time in South Korea? Do you have tips for places and experiences that are not to be missed? We would be happy to share your experiences here, on social media or, if you want, in info events for other TUD students. Get in touch with us:

© Sven Ellger/TUD

Advice on studying abroad

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Ms Federica Serra

Infocenter/ Study abroad; TUDworldwide: America

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Contact Information

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International Office

International Office

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Visiting address:

Fritz Foerster Bau, Office 161 Mommsenstraße 6

01069 Dresden

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Address postal

Postal address:

TUD Dresden University of Technology International Office

01062 Dresden

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Office hours:

Tuesday:

09:30 - 11:30

12:30 - 14:30

Thursday:

09:30 - 11:30

Please register at the SCS (FOE, floor 0).

Office hours by phone:

Keine Sprechzeit zwischen 20. - 28.02.2025

Looking for first-hand information?

Would you like to know more about South Korea? Ask our alumni ambassadors - TUD alumni who are active in many countries around the world and can give you information and advice for your stay abroad.

Getting in touch is very easy: On this interactive world map, markers indicate the cities where our alumni ambassadors live. There is a short profile with contact information for each ambassador.

Partner countries archive

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