One Week After Return, Final Thoughts

This winterterm program opened my eyes to the impact of globalization, women's movements and role in economic development, political shifts from an authoritarian regime to a democratically-elected government, Japanese colonial rule and legacies in the post-colonial era, the most important strategic alliance with the US, and American influence in Korea's contemporary society. I plan to incorporate my study abroad experience into my life in College Park and beyond by continuously learning about other cultures and societies, being open-minded in our transforming multi-cultural society, and having the ability to adapt to new things in the age of globalization. As a UMD student, I am grateful for this intellectual, fun, and life-changing experience in my senior year.

What will I miss the most about Korea?

Korean Food

Second Week, Second Impressions

Buddhist Temple in Yeoju (여주), southeast of Seoul




View of the Namgang River



Rally in front of the Japanese Embassy on Comfort Women Issue

When I listened to Dr. Na Young Lee’s presentation on Korean comfort women, I was appalled by the harsh accounts and horrific experiences left behind by Japanese colonial rule. The fact that Japanese government hasn’t officially apologized or gave reparations to these comfort women is even more devastating. I personally appreciated how this course coincidentally scheduled the class to attend lecture and to rally about this issue in front of the Japanese embassy on the same day. As a first time participant in a demonstration, I thought this was a great experience for me to see how an NGO organizes and rallies on an issue.



I held a board with a quote that questioned and protested against paying respects to “Class A” War Criminals at the Yasukuni Shrine.




NGO office on Comfort Women Issue

Joint Security Area (JSA) at Panmunjom and DMZ

I observed the division between these two countries as seen in photograph 6 and 7 at Panmunjom. I thought I stepped into a movie scene from Park Chan Wook’s Joint Security Area (JSA) and the fact that I was here at the most heavily militarized zone in the world felt surreal to me. I was cautioned not to make any hand gestures to the North Koreans because we were being watched as we are watching them. The North Koreans might use these hand gestures as part of its propaganda promoting communism. As of this date, the North and South hasn't signed a peace treaty and are still technically at war.


Next to a South Korean soldier inside the building where the armistice was signed.


Bridge of No Return

First Week, First Impressions

UMD's Korea Winterterm Program Students

Gyeongbokgung (경복궁), the main palace of the Joseon Dynasty.

Joseon Dynasty ruled in Korea for 518 years.

This dynasty and palace represents Korea's traditional Confucian society.

Geunjeongjeon (근정전), where state affairs were held and Vicinity

Korean traditional clothing, hanbok.

Korean Folk Village (한국민속촌)

Walked by a film crew shooting a scene for a Korean historical drama.

LG-Philips LCD Factory in Paju (파주), north of Seoul

LG-Philips LCD is one of the world's largest LCD producers and a subsidiary of the chaebol (Korean conglomerate), LG Group. The chaebol represents Korea's rapid economic development under President Park Chung Hee's Five-Year Economic Plans. The tour of LG-Philips LCD factory in Paju exposed me to the rapid industrialization of Korea. I had a great pleasure of learning how LG-Philips LCD transformed from a small electronics company into a global LCD maker.

LG-Philips LCD's showcase of products

Seoul Migrant Worker's Center, an NGO (non-governmental organization)

I was unaware of how South Korea has been also affected by globalization with the rising number of migrant workers. I appreciated how Seoul Migrant Workers Center are assisting migrant workers and assiduously breaking down the anti-foreigner sentiment in South Korea. I was deeply moved by the Bangladesh migrant worker’s story of his eleven year stay in South Korea. His fluency in Korean surprised me because in Korea, everyone wants to learn English, believing this language as a gateway to participate in a globalized society. I observed that this reversal is also possible where migrant workers want to learn Korean, work temporarily or even live in Korea permanently. The rising number of migrant workers indicates how South Korea has officially transitioned from a third-world nation into a developed nation. I believe the NGOs will continue to play an important role in social change of South Korea. The rise of NGOs South Korea illustrates that the nation has transitioned from a state-led authoritarian society to a democratic civilian-led society.

B-Boys Performance at Hongdae B-boy Theater (홍대 비보이전용극장)

Heartthrob, the b-boy

The Ballerina, who loves the b-boy

B보이를 사랑한 발레라나 - the ballerina who loves a b-boy

As an avid listener of hip-hop music, I was thrilled to see the B-Boys performance on the first weekend of this trip. I have heard about this group through my friends, YouTube, and blogs. The catchy beats and break dancing impressed me as well as the melodramatic effect of a ballerina who falls in love with a b-boy and turns into a b-boy (b-girl). I thought that this performance exemplified how American hip-hop music influenced Korean society and localized the genre respectable to the Korean public. I don’t know if my classmates know that Koreans love to watch melodramatic television shows. This performance reflected in a broader sense how South Korea was influenced by other countries, such as Japanese colonial modernity and every aspect of America. After that concert, I thought the B-boys perfomance metaphorically described South Korea in a sense of how America influenced its contemporary society.

The Long Flight to Korea

My brother drove me to Washington Dulles International Airport. I met other UM student abroad for Korean Air's 11:45 am group flight. It's been 15 years since I've been to Korea and 9 years since I've been riden on an airplane. So it was my first time that I experienced the intense post-9/11 Security check. After the check, I waited at the gate for Korean Air and started listening to my long list of playlists on my iPod for the 14+ hour flight.

Around 11:20 am, I boarded Korean Air's Boeing 747 (KE094) and sat in seat "47H." I thought the group was going to sit together during the flight, but we were spread out so I wouldn't see some of the UM students again until we arrived in Korea. The airplane took off at noon. I ate two "flight meals" with occasional snacks and drinks. During the flight on their Entertainment System, I listened to music, played video games Atari-style, watched movies, and tracked the plane's flight progress with their Google Earth-like capabilities. I didn't sleep alot but I had a series of 1-2 hour "Power Naps." I redundantly repeated these activities, in order, throughout the flight.

At 3:55pm (Korea Time), I finally arrived in Korea at Incheon International Airport. This is my first time at this newly built international airport dubbed the "World's Airport Hub of Northeast Asia." I picked up my luggage and looked for a bus driver with "University of Maryland" sign. We saw the bus driver with the UMD sign as soon as we exited the Customs Check.

Unexpectedly, I saw a woman holding a sign with my name "William Pak, University of Maryland." It turns out that it was my aunt from Cheonan (천안), a city on the outskirts of Seoul, who was informed about my arrival from my mom and wanted to surprise me. I was in kindergarten the last time I saw her and relatives in Korea. I planned on visiting my relatives during "Free Time." I guess this is just a precursor of a family reunion. My aunt (외숙모) let me borrow my uncle's black Motorola Razr and gave me boxes of 효두 과자 (walnut confection) for me to share with the group. After conversing with my aunt briefly, she went back to Cheonan and I caught up with the group and rode the bus to Ewha Woman's University. We finally arrived at Ewha Woman's University and walked to Ewha/Samsung International House, a dormitory for international students. I received my key card and assigned to Room 605. I punched in my PIN number and opened the door to my room. Wow, I liked the IKEA-style room layout, wooden Floor with Ondol (heated floor), and a bathroom with a shower and no separate tub

Then, I unpacked my luggage, connected my Gateway notebook to the internet ,and talked to my mom on Skype that I arrived safely in Korea and met my aunt from Cheonan. At 7:20pm, I ate dinner at a Korean restaurant around Ewha with the group. We ate 순두부 찌개 (Spicy Tofu Stew), 불고기 (grilled beef, bulgogi), and 된장찌개 (Bean Paste Stew) plus with a lot of side dishes. I enjoyed the authentic Korean dinner and walked around the area filled with clothing stores and coffeehouses/cafes. In sum, I endured the 14+ hour flight and finally arrived in Seoul, Korea.

A Week Before Departure

I can't believe that I'm leaving for Korea in a week. I am ecstatic and excited about this trip. I am looking forward to eating a lot of Korean food, visiting sites, such as the DMZ, checking out the vibrant-cosmopolitan city of Seoul, and learning about Korea's transformation. I'm not worried about anything except any inclement weather and flight delays at Dulles International Airport next week.