Annyeonghasaeyo! I’m Karen, Program Manager for our wonderful internships in Seoul. Ever wonder what a typical day might be like as an intern in South Korea? This destination has everything - let me show you!
We offer internships in several career fields in South Korea specialising in Business Development, Charity & NGO Support, Education, Graphic Design, Information Technology, Journalism & Publishing Media, PR & Marketing and Tourism & Hospitality.
Starting your day
Interns in Seoul may wake up around 6.30am to get ready for the day.
You might either make yourself breakfast in the kitchenette of your apartment or grab a coffee and breakfast from a coffee chain, convenience store or cafe. There are plenty of choices from sandwiches to dosirak box meals (ready-to-eat meals) that you can pick from.
For internships in South Korea, meals are not included in your internship program fee, but it’s extremely affordable to eat out or cook your own meals. If you prefer eating out, a recommended budget of at least ₩40,000 per day (about US$30) is suggested for meals, provided if these are simple, budget or non-frills meals.
Once you’re fueled and ready for adventure, you can make your way to your internship placement. Expect to walk from your accommodation (in a residence apartment that is located within central Seoul) to either the bus stop or subway station to commute to your internship.
Navigating through the city
Seoul is a large and expansive city, so it might take you up to 60 minutes to arrive from your accommodation to your placement, which will either be in Seoul or on the major industrial outskirts of Seoul Capital Area. Public transportation in Seoul is clean, efficient and affordable - it might cost you around ₩25,000 (approximately US$20) per week for public transportation costs.
There is also a reasonable amount of stair-climbing and walking involved as in any other big city, so you have to be prepared to walk from the bus stop or subway station to your placement (and ensure that you have a good pair of shoes too!)
The subway stations have signs in Korean and English and the subway lines are numbered and color-coded, so it’s very easy to navigate your way around. Don’t forget to download Naver Maps as Google Maps does not work in South Korea.
Starting your internship
You’ll probably aim to arrive at your internship placement between 8.30am - 9am (depending on the business hours of the placement organization) where you will be doing the tasks assigned to you according to the internship of your choice. Most internship schedules run Monday through Friday, and you have free time over the weekends. Your supervisor will also run through the tasks for the day with you and you’ll also get to mingle with your team members as well.
At midday, you can step out of the office for lunch (about an hour) and some fresh air. There will be plenty of choices to whet your appetite, so you might join your colleagues for some Korean BBQ, mandu (dumplings), tteokbokki (rice cakes smothered in spicy gochujang sauce or Korean Fried Chicken). Don’t forget to try the assorted banchans (side dishes) when you’re having a Korean meal!
After lunch, you will return to your placement where you will continue with your assigned tasks for the day before finishing up at around 6pm.
Exploring the city attractions
There’s plenty to do in Seoul in the evenings and you can take a leisurely stroll along the Cheonggyecheon Stream. This is a 11km long stream with many attractions along the way like the Cheonggyecheon Museum, the famous Gwangjang Market (of Netflix fame) and the Jongmyo Shrine, to name a few.
Don’t forget to explore the nightlife in Gangnam, Itaewon and Hongdae and there’s plenty of shopping to do at Myeongdong, Dongdaemun Night Market, the Hyundai Mall or Gangnam COEX.
Do also visit the observatory at the Namsan Seoul Tower to get a bird’s eye view of Seoul as the view is stunning!
If you prefer to jog or bike along the Han River, do try and catch the Banpo Bridge Light & Water show at the Banpo Hangang Park that takes place between 8 pm -9.30pm (every 30 minutes). It’s a great place to gather with friends for a picnic to enjoy a cup of ramyeon noodles or a bucket of Korean fried chicken and beer (called chimaek).
Rest and reflection
Finish your day (or week) reflecting on everything you learned during your internship, as well as all the cultural aspects and how these unforgettable experiences are contributing to your personal and professional growth. All internships with Intern Abroad HQ include experiential learning exercises - these weekly journaling prompts provide you with an insightful framework to work on your personal and professional development. They can even help you to gain course credit! Wind down for the day to reflect on everything you learned, and how you can’t wait for the coming weekend to meet up with your friends for some fun-filled activities!
Making the most of your weekends
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Visit Insadong: a dynamic arts & culture district where you can find art galleries (about 100 of them!), antique shops, traditional teahouses, and bookstores along its alleys. Get your name carved in a dojang (Korean name stamp) as a great souvenir.
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Explore the five palaces in Seoul: Gyeongbokgung Palace, Changdeokgung Palace, Changgyeonggung Palace, Deoksugung Palace and Gyeonghuigung Palace used to house Korean royalty and you will get to see landscaped gardens, elegant greenhouses, majestic throne halls, stone bridge ponds and stunning Joseon architecture. The Secret Garden in Changdoekgung Palace is highly recommended but there are limited spaces per day and it’s recommended to buy tickets in advance.
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Rent a hanbok: The hanbok is the traditional Korean clothing and there are many hanbok shops around the palaces where you can rent a hanbok and take photos for a memorable experience! Entrance to the palaces is free if you wear a hanbok!
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Visit a museum or art gallery: Art and architecture lovers must check out the Dongdaemun Design Plaza & Park, Seoul City Hall, and the Laeum Samsung Museum of Art.
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Go hiking: All four of the city’s guardian mountains (Bukaksan, Naksan, Namsan and Inwangsan) have hiking routes which can be accessed by following the remains of the Seoul City Wall. There’s plenty to see for nature lovers in every season.
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Check out K-Star Road: This is a busy shopping avenue celebrating the stars of Korean pop with symbols painted onto model bears. It is a must-visit place for K-pop fans and try to spot the giant bears of your favorite bands like BTS, 2PM, Super Junior, SHINee and more!
Want to know more? Click here to check out more of my insights and recommendations!
Ready to get started with your own internship experience?
Our step-by-step guide on how it works provides you with more information on how to get started. The process is user friendly - just submit your application to begin. It doesn’t cost anything to apply and won’t take more than 5 minutes. However, your formal expression of interest provides the foundation for us to help you take the next steps.