Q1. Please introduce yourself.
Hi, my name is Claire, and I am an international student at Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU). I am from Bonn in Germany, the city where Haribo and Beethoven are from! I began my studies at SKKU in 2023, so I will be starting as a sophomore this semester as a Film, Television, and Multimedia major.
Q2. Why did you choose Korea and SKKU?
I chose Korea because I used to be a huge fan of Korean music and dramas, and I am still mesmerized by the amazing cinematography and plots of Korean media. I used to film, direct, and edit my own K-pop dance covers and even won a few awards for them. I would love to do some new projects in the future, too. My dream is to become a music video or drama director in Korea, and I came to the conclusion that SKKU would be the best university to help me on my path. I have already met many inspiring professors and actors from our school and cannot wait to develop my creative skills starting this semester.
Q3. How is your life at SKKU?
My life at SKKU is completely different from my life back home. I would say my hometown and Seoul are polar opposites. In Korea, everything is very organized and fast-paced, while Bonn is a very calm city. Also, there is more of a sense of community in Korea. I think people are a lot less anonymous here, and my entire neighborhood is on a first-name basis. I have also had the opportunity to make many new friends, both Korean and international, by going out drinking at events like freshmen welcoming parties. I totally prefer the fast pace and novelty of studying in Seoul.
Q4. How will studying in Korea have an impact on your film career?
Since I plan on working in Korea later on, I think studying in this country is an important qualification I need to fulfill in order to make it as a foreigner here. I also hope that studying in Korea will help me broaden my networking connections. Additionally, in my opinion, Korean media is one of the best in the world. I think studying here will help me learn what makes K-media so interesting and captivating, making it possible for me to become one of the key players in the industry. I want to help the entertainment industry take a more global and inclusive approach to all sorts of projects in the future.