After landing at Incheon Airport, the group made their way straight to the stunning Gyeongbokgung Palace. Our knowledgeable tour guides provided captivating insights into the palace's intricate design and impressive architectural features. The students were fascinated to learn about the distinct similarities between the palace's style and the grand palaces found across the border in China.
Following the palace visit, the group spent a delightful half-hour exploring the vibrant Insadong district. They browsed the charming shops, sampling tasty Korean snacks and picking out unique souvenirs to commemorate their trip.
To cap off the eventful day, the group enjoyed a hearty dinner at a renowned restaurant famous for its delectable Korean ginseng chicken soup dish. Tired but exhilarated from their first day in Seoul, the students returned to their accommodations, eager to discover more of the city's rich cultural treasures in the days ahead.
After an early start and a sumptuous breakfast at the hotel, the group headed out to explore the charming Bukchon Hanok Village. They delighted in a short walking tour, marveling at the traditional Korean architectural styles of the historic houses. The next stop was the Bukchon Robot Park, where the students were enthralled by the futuristic display of humanoid robots, transformers, and musical automatons.
For lunch, the group indulged in a delicious Korean stew. They then visited the magnificent Hyundai Motor Studio, learning about the advanced robotic systems used in modern car manufacturing. The day continued with a trip to the Songdo Gukje Dosi, where we gained insights into the innovative Incheon Free Economic Zone development.
To cap off the eventful day, the students enjoyed a traditional Korean dinner, savoring the classic flavors of bibimbap, a stone pot rice dish.
Day 3 was a full day of STEAM activities with a 4D frame workshop at Sejong University. We learnt about and applied knowledge of gravity and surface tension by creating 4D frames using kits consisting of 100s of small parts. The activities were structured so students worked individually, then combined structures within their groups and finally with other groups to collaboratively create intricate Sierpinski pyramids. Lunch was a yummy Korean meal in the university canteen.
The afternoon session of the workshop had two parallel sessions. One group built structures for rolling a marble along a multi level path. This is normally the basis for Rube Goldberg machines. The second group built a Mechatronics soccer robot. Both groups were given leveled challenges to apply their creativity and STEAM knowledge.
The day passed by so quickly as all students were actively engaged and focused throughout the day. Our other stop was at HiKR with a K-pop museum.
The day began with an eye-opening visit to the Seoul Upcycling Plaza, where the students learned about the distinction between recycling and upcycling. A knowledgeable docent guided them through the process, demonstrating how creativity and materials knowledge can transform discarded items into new, valuable products.
After indulging in a delicious lunch of Korean fried chicken, the group headed to the KBC television studio for a behind-the-scenes tour. The students were awestruck by the grand sets, the intricate lighting, and the expensive-looking equipment. They had a chance to put their acting skills to the test, trying their hand at weather reporting and news presenting.
Next, the group explored the historic old palace and walked along part of the impressive surrounding wall, immersing themselves in Seoul's rich cultural heritage. The much-anticipated highlight of the day came in the form of a lively K-pop dance tutorial, where the students eagerly learned the choreography to a popular K-pop hit.
To cap off the eventful day, the group savored a traditional Korean BBQ dinner with their friends.