There are many foreign students in Catholic University of Korea (CUK). At present, there are a total of 383 international students in the campus. A total of 231 undergraduate students, 41 exchange students, 64 graduate students and 47 language students. Countries where the students come from include Bulgaria, China, Colombia, Ecuador, France, India, Iraq, Japan, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, The Netherlands, Papua New Guinea, The Philippines, Portugal, Russia, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Taiwan, United States of America and Vietnam. At the undergraduate level, the majors that students take are as follows: Business Administration, International Studies, Japanese Language & Culture, Psychology, Social Sciences, Digital Media and Human Ecology. The exchange students on the other hand, study Korean Language and Literature, and Business Administration. Whereas the graduate students study International Studies, Business Administration, Information, Communications and Electronic Engineering, and Religious Studies.
Below is the summary of the results of the interview made by some students from GEO Class 3-3 to some of the international students in the campus.
Filipino students (Interview with Gerard Angelo Inguillo. Bambilla)
There are many Filipinos in CUK. Almost all Filipinos are studying for their Master`s degree.
The reasons why there are many Filipinos at CUK is because they want to experience studying abroad, at the same time, CUK is looking for Filipinos for the G.E.O program. It was a good opportunity for both parties involved.
In CUK, about half of the Filipinos major in international relations, and the other half majors in management, digital media and engineering/science related fields.
They want to meet more Korean friends, travel around Korea, learn Korean language and Korean culture. Almost all Filipinos go to festival, travel in Seoul, and meet with Korean and other foreign friends during their free time.
Filipino students excel in many fields. For instance, a Filipino student, Angeline Lopez, received first prize at beauty festival in Daehangno. She was crowned as the First Miss International Multicultural Society Pageant winner.
(In Photo: Interrupted during their English Clinic conversation, friendly Gerard poses for a picture taking session.)
CUK has exchange students from various countries including China. Almost all Chinese students have a major that is associated with management and economics.
Many Chinese students come to Korea because it is near China and they think there are minimal cultural differences between Korea and China. However, they often encounter problems in communicating with Koreans and in buying food.
Almost all Chinese students live in the dormitory room in the International Hub Building or somewhere near CUK.
What is more interesting is that now that the Korean wave is sweeping China, more and more Chinese are enthusiastic about Korean singers. The best singers are Dongbangsingi and Rain. Korean dramas are also popular. These factors make Chinese enjoy Korea more.
Chinese students also study in Korea because they want to travel and make new friends. These are the reasons why Chinese students come here to Korea.
Write up on the foreign students by Abigail Go (Data courtesy of CUK's Office of International Affairs)
Text about Filipino and Chinese students from selected students of Class 3-3 students, from Professor Irving Gussow's class
