Semyung University 

Semyung University was established in 1987 by the Dae-won Education Foundation and has 8,000 students. It is located in Jecheon-si, South Korea, which is about 2 hours’ bus ride from Seoul.  The campus is surrounded by mountains, creating a quiet and peaceful environment. The beautiful lake, Uirimji, is just a stone’s throw away from the university. 

School’s Main Website

Minimum GPA requirement: 

2.5 / 4.0

Language of instruction:

Korean, English

Flying Chalks’ tip: Most classes are conducted in Korean, so it's best if you attend the Korean Language courses if you do not understand Korean.  

Courses:

Course descriptions can be found here.

Semyung University is known for its courses on Oriental Medicine. It is one of the few universities in Korea that offer such courses.

Korean Language Programs

Korean classes in Semyung Unviersity are divided into morning, afternoon, and evening classes. Classes will go on for 18 weeks per semester, Monday through Friday. Korean cultural experience activities will be also offered. You can find out more here: http://www.semyung.ac.kr/en/main.smu?action=term

Course registration process:

Registration for courses is via the Fastest-Fingers-First system on the start of the application date.

Flying Chalks’ tips:

• In most Korean universities, professors have the authority to accept students into their class even though it might appear as fully enrolled on the university’s online course registration system. In addition, professors are usually more understanding towards exchange students’ demands. Having said that, do not bet all your hopes on it!

• As Korean websites tend to require certain plug-ins not used in other parts of the world, it would be good to use Internet Explorer which supports these plug-ins. Browsers like Google Chrome or Firefox may not support the plug-ins needed for the websites to run. 

Attendance policy:

You will get an "F" if you are absent more than 3 times that semester for the course, regardless of your performance. 

Campus map:
The Semyung University campus map can be found here!

Selected facilities:

Minsong Library

The library has many facilities to aid your learning. There is a reading room, a cafeteria, a computer room, a DVD room and an English café. The computer and DVD rooms are located on the 2^nd floor. The English café’s purpose is to assist students with their English language skills. Students can practice speaking English with experts there.

Professors’ and Students’ Center

This building is located right in the middle of campus.  There is a fitness center, a restaurant, a convenience store, a concert hall and many other facilities within the center.  You can use the fitness center for a fee of KRW 30,000 every month. On special occasions, there will be performances in the concert hall. 

Food on campus:

The best place to eat is the Professors’ and Students’ Center. You can enjoy diverse cuisines there.

Flying Chalks’ recommendation: Do try the special menu! Although it is slightly more expensive, you are guaranteed a satisfying meal. 

Campus transportation:

Bus 31 runs through Semyung University and comes in intervals of 30 minutes. As this bus is operated by the city and not the school, you will have to pay a bus fare for it. 

Semyung University has a relatively vibrant student life with its fair share of student clubs and university events. 

Orientation program:

The orientation program is held on campus, and usually lasts for a week. Students get free accommodation and food during the program. They will be paired with seniors who would bring them around the campus and help them adapt to college life. Korean pop stars would also be invited to for a concert at the university every year as part of the orientation program. 

Buddy program:

The buddy program in Semyung University pairs each international student to a local student. The Korean students help international students adapt to campus life. At the same time, the Korean students can improve their language skills.

More about the program can be found here: http://www.semyung.ac.kr/en/main.smu?action=mentor

Students will be informed about the buddy program through emails, Facebook or group chats upon enrollment into the school. Application details can then be found there. 

Student clubs:

Semyung University has a good range of student clubs and activities for students to participate in, from that of dance and drama, to soccer and photography. More information can be found here: http://www.semyung.ac.kr/en/main.smu?action=campuslife

University events:

Semyung Sports Meet & Festival

The Sports Meet and the Festival are two highlight events that the whole school looks forward to. The Sports Meet is held in the 1st semester while the Festival is held in the 2nd semester. There will be many booths selling street food and offering games during the Festival. Pop singers will also be invited to hold a concert at the university.

International day

On this day, all international students from Semyung University are given a chance to showcase their culture. In the morning, there is a cooking contest. International students prepare traditional cuisines from their home country and Korean students will evaluate them. In the afternoon, international students are encouraged to give a performance inspired by their culture.  

Semyung University is located in Jecheon City – one which is home to many cultural places and provides for many opportunities for students to learn about Korea’s traditional way of life. In addition, Semyung University is near to Urimji; an area which holds much historical significance and also features a beautiful lake that serves as a reservoir. 

For food:

Red fish paste is a famous dish in Jeochen-si. It is spicier than the usual fish paste, and is economical as well. You can try this dish at a traditional market.

Flying Chalks’ recommendation: If you like spicy food, do try the Spicy Deung-gal-bi (ribs with special seasoning)! It is a dish enjoyed by the locals but can be a little expensive. You can try this dish at Du-ggu-bi restaurant. The address is 21, Uirim-daero 20-gil, Jecheon-si, Chungcheongbuk-do, Republic of Korea.

For nightlife and entertainment:

A karaoke room is called No-Rae-bang room in Korea. There are No-Rae-Bangs behind Semyung university.  Also, for all the “Pokémon-Go” fans, you can catch many Pokémons and visit many Pokémon gyms inside Semyung University!

For daily necessities and groceries:

Lotte Mart and E-Mart are big supermarkets where you can get everything from groceries and pastries to electronics! Lotte-mart is closer to Semyung university, but is smaller than E-mart.

There are also dozens of convenience stores strewn around the area and in Semyung University where you can buy food and simple daily necessities there. 

For shopping:

For shopping, you can also visit Lotte Mart and E-Mart to do some simple shopping such as to get skincare and cosmetic products. For more a full shopping experience, many students would make a trip to Seoul instead!

Flying Chalks’ recommendations:

• “Express Bus Terminal” is a highly popular place amongst locals and foreigners alike for shopping. The underground shopping features hundreds of shops with products at affordable prices. Having said that, you can always bargain for better prices!
• Dongdaemun is another highly popular shopping haven where you can literally shop till dawn! For serious shoppers, it is near impossible to finish the entire shopping area even in one full day :O
• Hongdae is not only known to be a great place for nightlife and entertainment. It is also an area that is known for shopping catered to the locals and foreign youths alike!
• Aside from the above listed areas, Myeongdong and Ewha University area (for clothes are shoes) are also two of the few where you can shop till you drop!

For leisure:

For sightseeing, you can visit the Urimji lake – an iconic lake near the school. Its grandeur makes it a popular spot for tourists. Lake Cheongpung is another beautiful area relatively close to Semyung University. You will need a taxi to get here, and the journey takes about an hour. Apart from the beautiful scenery, you can also enjoy bungee jumping there! 

Getting from Incheon airport to Semyung University:

There are two ways which you can do so:

By Train (cheapest)

Once at the Arrival Hall of Incheon Airport, head down to B1 floor and follow the signs “Airport Railroad” to the station. Take the Express train on Airport Railroad to Seoul Station. From there, you can take bus 1281 from its bus terminal towards Jecheon. Alternatively, the bus service Kobus shuttles between the stations every hour. For more information about the bus timings and frequency, do visit: www.kobus.co.kr. It is recommended to take a bus as there is only one train that goes from Seoul to Jecheon-si, while there are multiple buses.

Once you are in Jecheon-Si, simply take bus 31 or 51 and alight at Semyung Unversity, which is the last stop for both routes.

By Limousine Bus

The limousine bus offers a comfortable and relatively inexpensive ride to various places. Passengers can get information about its services and ticketing at the following ticket booths located outside the airport’s Arrival floor.

Directions: Board the limousine bus numbered 9C

Once you are in Jecheon-Si, simply take bus 31 or 51 and alight at Semyung Unversity, which is the last stop for both routes.