1. Please tell us about yourself.

My name is Jakob Yung Petersen. While I was born in Iksan, I grew up most of my life in Denmark. Throughout my bachelor’s, I have been fortunate enough to live and study in three different countries (UK, France, and Korea). I came to Korea and SKKU back in 2023 as one of the first four students on the new dual-bachelor’s programme between emlyon Business School and SKKU.


2. Why did you choose to join the dual degree program and study in Korea?

Initially, I was drawn to the dual degree program because it was an opportunity to experience a completely different academic and cultural environment. During the last couple of years, I have been able to live in different European countries and work between the UK and the US, so the prospect of really stepping out of my comfort zone and challenging myself to immerse myself fully in Korean culture was exciting to me.

Additionally, growing up in Denmark, I did not really have a connection to Korea. So, the opportunity to reconnect with some culture and roots for two years was also an important factor for me. And is there really a better place to do that than at a university? I do not think it would have been the same experience if I came here for full-time work.

3. What were your first impressions of Korea and SKKU when you arrived?

I think it is difficult to manage all the new impressions you get when you arrive in a new country. Fortunately, I had visited Seoul before, so I was not too surprised or overwhelmed. Still, however, the first couple of weeks here were a lot. To be honest, it is a little bit of a blur, but I remember one of the main thoughts during those weeks was << I should have studied Korean harder >>.

Even more overwhelming was the university at first. In Paris and in London, I did not really have a campus. It was mainly buildings spread across the city. So, coming to a university campus, everything seemed huge to me. Even on my first day, I got lost and sat in the wrong classroomㅠㅠ.

Luckily, I had two really great buddies to help me with everything from SIM cards and banks to course registration and food around the university. Thank you, Dan and Vini - I do not know how I would have adjusted so quickly without you!

Additionally, the international office and the GBA office have been great sources of support. Thank you to all the staff members for always caring about us dual-degree students.

4. Can you describe your academic experience in Korea? (e.g., classes, professors, Korean students, differences from your home university)

I found the academic environment here very supportive, with many opportunities to go beyond the curriculum to explore your interests. For instance, I was able to participate in faculty/PhD seminars hosted by Prof. Oh Ji Yeol as well as the SFS Cavalcade we hosted at our campus to deepen my knowledge in finance as an academic field. Additionally, I was able to visit the P&G offices through the I-Core programme. I am grateful for the opportunities provided to explore new perspectives outside of the classroom.

Within the classrooms, one of the biggest differences I noticed was the classroom dynamics. Classrooms here tend to be a lot quieter than what I was used to. I like to think that I have gotten more used to it, but one of my friends pointed out to me that it is still easy to tell that I did not go to Korean schools before. Nevertheless, as soon as I went out to group work, I was always impressed with the GBA students' different perspectives, interests, and knowledge. This was especially prevalent during the I-core programme, where we could combine our different interests and fields to produce a full report.

5. How was your daily life in Korea? (e.g., housing, food, transportation, making friends, adjusting to the culture)

It is hard to describe my daily life in a few short sentences. Thinking back, I realise that it changed a lot as I got more used to the culture and living here.

My first semester was hard. 8006.39 km, that is how far away from home I am right now, with a 7- or 8-hour time difference. I have moved cities and countries a couple of times now; however, getting used to the distance and time difference was really difficult. Additionally, adjusting to this new environment and trying to make friends will always be difficult at first, no matter where you go. However, as I started to get more involved in club life around the university, I was fortunate enough to meet many great people and build a daily routine. I got familiar with the campus, and the cultural differences felt smaller and smaller. Especially coming back for my third semester and onward, everything felt like a breeze. I am especially thankful to the badminton club here, "Racket Challenge”, for providing me with so many great experiences and memories. Some of the memories that really stand out to me are going to tournaments together or exchange games with other universities. It was a fun way to spend a day out as a large group.

Now, two years later, I have grown to really like my life in Seoul. In many ways, Seoul has become like a second home to me. I have many great friends and memories from here that I hope to bring with me for the rest of my life.


6. What challenges did you face during your stay, and how did you overcome?

Open any blog post about living in Korea, and you will see "language barrier" listed as one of the first struggles expats face when they move to Korea. While this was definitely also true for my case, I think the GBA students are the exceptions to this rule. Though shy at first about their English abilities, I never experienced any difficulty in group work here when it came to language barriers. Through a common effort and mix of Korean and English, we were always able to make it work. Thank you for the kind collaboration with all the students I have worked with, and thank you for bearing with my terrible Korean skills. I promise to study harder.

The biggest adjustment I had to make was around the cultural expectations. While I am ethnically Korean, my mannerisms and cultural background are far from Korean. I remember the former department chair, Prof. Oh Jong Min, joked to me once <<When you (Jakob) first arrived in Korea, you used to wave back to me. Now, after two years, you bow>>. While I am not 100% there yet, I like to think that I have gotten a lot closer. Certain areas, like how you share your opinions or find a consensus, as well as how to navigate the hierarchy at university and workplaces, certainly took some time to get used to. Luckily, I have made some great Korean friends who have been a great help with this.

7. What did you enjoy the most about your experience in Korea?

The balance between cultural (re)connection and academic development was something I really enjoyed here. However, the thing I enjoyed the most was being part of and experiencing the unique student life in Korea. I have been lucky enough that my Korean friends have always invited me along, so I got (what I feel like) the full experience - From festivals and FM to 2차, 3차, Noreabang, etc. These moments, along with the more studious side of university life like midterm cramming at 24h study cafés, made my time here enriching. I really hope that anyone who comes here from abroad on exchange or dual degree gets to have the full student life experience.


8. How do you think this experience has helped you grow personally or academically?

This experience helped me a lot to grow my comfort zone further than I ever expected. When I enrolled in London in 2021, I never thought that I would end up here four years later. However, I remember my former mentor once told me that you really grow once you go outside of your comfort zone, especially in our 20s. This challenge of moving off the continent to Korea and settling in a country where I did not speak the language and did not know anyone had been one of the most difficult things I have done. But I am so grateful for the now meaningful relationships I have built across cultures.

Academically and professionally, the dual degree helped me develop a new perspective. I think the ability to switch lenses and view the world from a different point can be valuable when trying to understand and solve a problem. Especially if that issue stretches across countries and cultures.

The main learning from this dual degree for me has been what it means to have a global mindset. Studying in multiple different education systems, I can more comfortably work across cultures and approach problems from different angles. At the same time, moving that far away, you develop a certain level of resilience and adaptability that can help you navigate unfamiliar environments in the future.

9. Can you advise future students who are considering the program?

I hope everyone has the opportunity to expand their comfort zone beyond borders. The dual degree is a very unique way to do so. While exchange opportunities are also great, staying in a country for two years instead of a semester is something completely different. You get a real feel for local life, and you are forced out of the "international bubble" that sometimes happens when you go on exchange.

My best piece of advice to any dual-degree student would be to approach any kind of international experience with an open mind. Be ready to laugh at yourself as you inevitably stumble over language mistakes and cultural faux pas. It is all part of the experience. At the end of the day, this is the best opportunity to really dive into a different culture and push yourself above and beyond.


10. Do you have any message for the Global Business Administration students or Korean students you studied or worked with during your time here?

I want to thank all the students I have been fortunate enough to meet and work with over the past two years. Thank you for including me in the classroom, over meals, or during late-night study sessions. I hope to stay connected, and I look forward to meeting again somewhere in the world.