국제교류처

KANGWON NATIONAL UNIVERSITY
OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

Q1. What do you consider your biggest challenges while living in Korea?

I think the biggest challenge has been learning how to live on my own. It was quite different from living with my family, so I spent a lot of time figuring out how to take care of myself in this new environment. It was my first time living alone, so although I was clumsy at first, it was also exciting. As I gradually filled my room with things, I also started to learn how to let go of what I don’t need. I realized that doing things on your own isn’t necessarily hard—it just takes the courage to begin.

Q2. Could you tell us what kind of place or meaning KNU holds in your life?

My first step toward independence began when I moved into the dormitory, where I lived for about a year. One day, I took what I thought was a shortcut to campus and ended up following the forest path that surrounds the school. The atmosphere of the woods, the red brick buildings, and the short autumn afternoon made it feel like a scene from a movie. I don’t have as much time now to walk around and enjoy the campus as I used to, but I still think KNU is a very beautiful place.

Q3.  What is your goal, or what would you like to achieve this year, hopefully?

This year, I hope to become an undergraduate research assistant. Although the opportunity was available last year, I didn’t apply because I didn’t fully understand its value. Now, I feel more motivated and hope that through this experience, I can deepen my understanding of my major. So I plan to apply this year. 

Q4. What advice would you give to students who are interested in studying in Korea? 

If I could give one piece of advice, it would be to take time to think about your vision and how you plan to achieve it—step by step. In my case, I once read news about cultured meat, and I began to wonder, “What if plants could also be cultured and eaten?” That led me to develop an interest in verifying such cultured plants, and that’s why I chose to study at KNU, which has a strong history in agricultural sciences.

Q5. What new habits or hobbies have you developed while staying in Korea?     

Because Korea has four distinct seasons, I developed the habit of using hand cream and lotion during the colder months. In Thailand, the warm weather keeps your skin naturally hydrated, so I didn’t really use them there.

Also, running has become a hobby for me. Back in Thailand, I used to swim often, but in Korea, I started running regularly at Gongji Stream and the university stadium.

Q6. Did you have any meaningful or fun experiences observing the cultural differences between Korea and Thailand?

In the early days of my stay in Korea, I had a habit of observing whether or not subways had overhead racks. In Thailand, which is a Buddhist country, the head is considered sacred, so even placing things above someone’s head is avoided. That’s why Thai subways don’t have overhead racks. On the other hand, Korean subways do, and I find them really convenient!