Taking a photo at the DMZ after exploring the North Korean tunnels.
Author: Jack Norris | Major: Computer Science | Semester: Winter 2023
The first smartphone I ever held was a Samsung. Ever since that first encounter, the company’s products have been a staple in my household — nearly every mobile device I have used through the years has had the futuristic Samsung logo embossed somewhere on its surface. Samsung was my introduction to the age of mobile computation. Funnily enough, it was also my introduction to the country of South Korea and its role as one of the leading technology innovators in the world.
As a freshman in college, I routinely looked through catalogs of some of the best spots for computer science students to study abroad. Unsurprisingly, South Korea was often at the top of those lists, their world-class robotics and artificial intelligence research facilities being cited. Up until now, it never worked out for me to study there — if conflicting dates weren’t the culprit, internships or research opportunities were. However, when I found a program through Hogsync to study artificial intelligence at Korea University throughout the winter, everything fell into place.
I took the class under Dr. Joongheon Kim: a researcher not only incredibly well-versed in conducting high-quality research, but also experienced in working in industry at companies like LG and Intel as well. It was amazing to get to learn from someone like him — his lectures were practically digestible to the layman, and any questions that branched deeper into his AI expertise only demonstrated its depth. As someone who wants to go down the path of AI research, it was truly a treat to be his student.
My classes had a bit of a flipped-classroom feel to them, and although I did okay on the exams, I wasn’t a huge fan of their format. Both the midterm and final had a few “gotcha” questions that quizzed the class on seemingly moot details of homework assignments. At the U of A, I feel like that doesn’t happen too often. Regardless of this, I enjoyed the class immensely!
Outside of studies, I explored the rich history and culture of South Korea through its ancient palaces, interesting cuisine, and numerous museums. The National Museum, the Dongdaemun Design Plaza, and the numerous robots I saw in coffee shops and airports were highlights of my time in-country. I also had the chance to go to the DMZ and peer into North Korea, albeit through the lenses of binoculars.
However, few things taught me more about the country than the time I spent with Daeyoung: a local to the Seoul area that I met through my AI class. He helped me navigate the subway, gave me pointers on some of the best spots to see around town, and introduced me to a TON of local foods like soft tofu stew and Gopchang (the latter of which I wasn’t a fan of for obvious reasons). He even took me to a doctor and helped translate when I had a mild reaction to some bad kimchi at the university cafeteria! We exchanged socials, so we’ll be keeping in touch.
In all, I would 100% recommend this program to students at the University of Arkansas. The country has something to offer everybody, from technologists to history buffs, from art lovers to foodies. My only regret from the experience is that I didn’t plan things out more thoroughly — there were a few sites I didn’t get the chance to see like Bukhansan National Park and Samsung D’Lite: a store demoing the latest and greatest tech from Samsung. Time flies on study abroad experiences, so it’s always wise to have a solid idea of what you want to experience going into them.
After getting home, the first thing I’ll do is chill with my dogs. I started to miss them when I saw folks walking their dogs along the streets of Seoul. Technology is awesome, but few things can beat a man’s best friend.