Q1. Please introduce yourself.
Hello, my name is Miura Tomomi, and I am a 24-year-old Japanese student at Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU). I come from Saitama Prefecture, which is near northern Tokyo. I entered SKKU as a student of the Humanities Affiliated College in 2018. After my first year, I decided to major in Philosophy: as of now, I am currently in my senior year of college. This semester, I have been preparing for SKKU’s graduate program in Korean Language and Literature.
Q2. Why did you choose Korea?
Back in high school, many of the students in my senior year class were into Korean culture. One of them happened to recommend a certain K-pop song to me, and I quickly grew to love it because of its quick tempo and catchy rhythm. The title of that song was Growl by EXO. That was how I became immersed in Korea and its culture. Eventually, that winter, I got permission from my parents to come to Korea. Someday, I hope to understand and translate all the Korean songs in my playlist without help from anyone.
Q3. Why did you choose SKKU?
One of the main reasons was that SKKU is the oldest university in Korea. Plus, SKKU is known for high student satisfaction. After entering SKKU, I was surprised by the fact that the school provides a year-long special curriculum for international students that focuses on general elective courses. Through the curriculum, I was able to learn basic knowledge required for my stay in Korea, such as how to properly write a report and how to correct frequent spelling mistakes. As only foreign students took such classes, we were able to form a community where we could share important information.
Q4. How is your life at SKKU?
During weekdays, I attend classes at the Humanities and Social Sciences Campus. Then, I either chat with my friends at a café near Hyehwa or hang out in Yeouido. Before the pandemic, I often spent time in the library during exam weeks, as reading rooms in the Central Library used to be open for 24 hours. During the library cleaning time, which was between 5 a.m. and 6 a.m., I would go to a Korean sauna near the station. Then, I would return to school and keep studying at the library. Looking back, though, I feel kind of sad that I did not join any clubs, or participate in events such as the school festival.