Many people learn about and become interested in Korea through the "Korean Wave." This also works in Japan. There is a student who came to Korea by the influence of her mother, who has a big interest in Korea. Kita Hiroko came to Korea after graduating from her high school. Let's take a look at her story. -ED
  Korea, a place full of affection
  When I was a freshman, I prepared for the ceremony 'Hae-oh-rum'. Some senior students came to encourage us and gave us candies. When one candy left and my Korean friends broke it into pieces to share it. I was surprised because this would not often happen in Japan.
  I also felt amazed when my friends called each other by using words like sister and brother. In Japan, people usually call each other by using their own names regardless of their age. Therefore, the Korean style sounded awkward to me at first, but now I like this style feeling that I'm getting closer to them. Japanese people usually draw a line, even between close friends. It does not mean they are not close to each other, but it indicates they are well-mannered in a formal way. Due to these cultural differences, I feel Korean people are more warm-hearted.
  Unique patriotism of Korean
  Lots of Koreans are very patriotic. I feel this in the cases of the World Cup game and Dokdo debate. In Japan, only a few people are concerned about it. I myself do not have an interest in that issue either.
  Loneliness and language barriers.
  Living apart from family is the hardest thing when studying abroad. I get much lonely during the holiday seasons like Chuseok because other people can go home. Another difficulty comes from language. It is very hard to communicate and study in a foreign language. Many international students take their courses without enough knowledge about Korean language, so it is very hard to understand class. We have to study two or three times harder than Korean students, so it is never easy. I hope that the university provides more support to the international students in learning the Korean language.
  Making foreign friends, the way to understand culture
  I think making local friends is the best thing to do when studying abroad. Through friends, you can embrace a new culture and learn language more easily. My advice to students who are preparing to study abroad is that you should make local friends and have variety of experiences.