Kookmin University hosts US high schoolers for cultural exchange

Kookmin University's HUSS Global Coexistence Project Group staff and visiting students pose at the university's campus in Seoul, April 4. Courtesy of Kookmin University

Kookmin University's HUSS (Humanities and Social Sciences) Global Coexistence Project Group hosted 24 high school students from two New York-based schools on April 4 for an experiential Korean language and culture program in central Seoul.

The visiting students came from Bronx Prep High School and Democracy Prep Endurance High School, both part of the Democracy Prep charter school network in the Bronx borough of New York.

The program was organized as part of the university's global service-learning initiative, which links Korean language and culture education with international exchange activities for foreign visitors and residents.

Working in teams with Kookmin University student volunteers, the participants took part in an Amazing Race-style mission across the city. Teams departed from the campus and traveled by public transit to Insa-dong, Cheonggye Stream, Gwanghwamun and Gyeongbok Palace, aiming to visit as many designated sites as possible within three hours. Activities along the route included purchasing and sampling traditional Korean snacks and documenting visits with photos.

The program was designed to go beyond sightseeing, with participants required to communicate in Korean and solve problems on the ground as they navigated the city. Kookmin student volunteers prepared the mission content in advance and served not only as guides but also as collaborative partners and cultural intermediaries throughout the day.

“This program is a vital, hands-on exchange where Korean and American students can connect through a shared interest in our language and culture,” an official at Kookmin University said. “Our hope is that participants leave with a genuine understanding of what it means to coexist in a global community.”

The HUSS Global Coexistence Consortium, which includes Kookmin University alongside four other Korean universities, has been operating since 2024 with support from the Ministry of Education and the National Research Foundation of Korea.