After arriving in Seoul, we visited the Gyeongbokgung Palace and learned about the incredible history that makes up K-Culture. The vast palace grounds were incredible to explore as we realised we were walking on over 600 years of history. Two facts we learned were that the name "Gyeongbok" means that "the new dynasty shall have good fortunes and prosper." In addition, Gyeongbokgung Palace was the very place where Hunminjeongeum (a script for writing the Korean language) was created and distributed.
"Cultural Heritage Administration. 'Gyeongbokgung Palace and Its History.' Royal Palaces and Tombs Center, https://royal.cha.go.kr/ENG/contents/E101010000.do." Accessed 16 Mar. 2025.
We finished our day experiencing a fantastic Korean BBQ dinner at a local restaurant. Only a 5-minute walk from the hotel, students got to experience a nearby shopping street before we turned to find this gem tucked into one of Korea's vibrant alleys. The restaurant experience was a lot of fun for the students, and despite the lack of phones, student's seems to have an excellent time chatting with friends and making memories.
Hello from your Grade 9 Seoul Team! We've had another day for the books with a plethora of activities and experiences in this beautiful city.
We started the day at Korean Universities Environmental Sustainability Programme. We got to sit in on a lecutre as the university students were taught about today's activity. It felt a bit surreal as we watched them watch a TIS video about the type of students at TIS and what they could expect when working with us.
First, we learned about 'Plogging' which is a portmanteau describing the act of picking up trash and litter while jogging. Then, we crossed the street to the Anam-Ro Seniors Villiage where we worked in group to pick up trash and learn about Korea's recycling system.
After we finished plogging, we returned to the university and got a chance to discuss with our university student mentors about the value of recycling and talk to them about their university experiences. Our students gave presentations on behalf of their groups that were both engaging and educational!
Our next item on the itinerary was to attend a Korean-staple activity; baseball! The students had a blast watching the LG Twins vs. NC Dinos and picked up some great merch from the concession stands. We were all in awe of the many chants and dances the fans knew and performed with enthusiasm throughout the game.
Following our afternoon at the diamond, we travelled to Myeongodng for a live showing of Nanta. This show started in Korea in 1997 and has since played around the world, including on Broadway! The actors use kitchen objects, various foods, and cooking methods to create a beat the replicates traditional Korean music. The students LOVED the show!
While we ate a great amount of food today, the top of the list for many students was the variety of Fried Chicken. Many students got to experience a mixed box at the baseball game, the the restaurant had the original recipe with sauce on the side. Delicious! Our students seem to really enjoy spending time together without their devices, and sharing a meal.
We have woken up on our third day to a special treat! Snow is falling in Seoul ❄️
After the excitement of waking up to snow, we boarded our busses and went to the northern border of South Korea. Imjingak park, located 7 km from the Military Demarcation Line, is now at the forefront of tourism related to the Korean War. Imjingak was built in 1972 with the hope that someday unification would be possible.
"Imjingak Park | DMZ | Demilitarized Military Zone | South Korea." Etourism, www.koreaetour.com/imjingak-park/. Accessed Mar. 18, 2025.
Our main stop at the park was the Camp Greaves DMZ Experience Center. Parts of the experience center were set in old ammunition storage sheds, and an underground recreation hall that had been used as a bowling alley. The students got to explore the centre which included documents, exhibits, and interactive displays of the historic conflict between North and South Korea. The All About the DMZ book linked below is also an excellent resource that gives a comprehensive understanding of the history and purpose of the DMZ.
"DMZ / Imjingak." Gyeonggi Global, https://english.gg.go.kr/dmz-imjingak/. Accessed Mar. 18, 2025.
"All About the DMZ." Gyeonggi Global, https://english.gg.go.kr/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/AllabouttheDMZ.pdf. Accessed Mar. 18, 2025.
Video display of the grounds
Profiles of citizens stories throughout the conflict
Art Exhibit
Students reading documents about the history of the DMZ
A highlight for many of the teachers was anticipating an interview with a defector from North Korea. They spoke in a Korean Dialect that isn’t commonly spoken in Seoul so our tour guides helped with the translation and did their best to help students understand this person’s story. It was an impactful experience that we hope students can reflect back on in the future. The observatory also had binoculars that pointed towards NK, and we could see citizens walking in the fields on the other side.
*The image below shows the interviewee, and behind them is the coast of North Korea.
Our schedule on Sunday had a slight adjustment that caused us to miss visiting Hanok village when we were at the palace, but we got the opportunity today! Students were thrilled to see the traditional village where many tv shows, k-drama’s and photos of ‘classic Seoul’ are taken.
"Walking Map of Hanok Villages (한옥마을 도보지도)." 서울한옥포털, https://hanok.seoul.go.kr/front/kor/exp/expWalkingMap.do. Accessed Mar. 18, 2025.
Students got to try out the K-Pop experience where they selected props, chose an iconic stage, and danced to music. They had a blast!
"Experience." KOCIS, January 2024, https://www.kocis.go.kr/eng/webzine/202401/sub05.html.
Accessed Mar. 18, 2025
We finished our day at another excellent Korean restaurant where the students shared multiple types of dishes. It's hard to believe that we are halfway through our week in Seoul!
Another cold morning greeted us today as we prepared for our various activities. We are looking forward to warmer weather for our final day in Seoul tomorrow!
First stop today was at N Seoul Tower, which is known as the iconic 'love' tower in k-drama culture. We took the cable car up to the Tower platform (each car fit 48 people!) and then took an elevator up to the observation decks. The top of the tower has the directions you're facing printed on the windows, and which major cities around the globe you are facing at any given time. Students thoroughly enjoyed shopping and photo booths on the observation deck levels.
After lunch, we went to the batting cages for another look at a quintessential K-Culture experience: baseball. Students were divided into teams where they played in a simulator. The students all had a lot of fun, and the cheering could be heard loud and clear throughout the venue!
We have been treated to some excellent food this week, but a highlight for many of us was tonights cooking class! We made some classic dishes in a Korean style, like dumplings and Bibimbap (비빔밥). Then, some students were chosen to demonstrate how to make large dishes of kimchi and glass noodles. All our food was cooked for us and served buffet style and it was encouraging to see how excited the students were to eat something they had created.
It's hard to believe, but we have finished our final day in Seoul!
We spent most of the day at Everland Park, riding roller coasters (Asia's largest wooden roller coaster), visiting zoo animals, eating tasty treats, and thawing out in the +15 degree sunshine. It was an excellent way to spend our last day and unwind after a busy week!
To finish off the sun-filled day at Everland, we had an hour and a half of free time to shop in the Myeongdong area. Students were big fans of Olive Young and all of the shops that sold sneakers, clothes, and the food cart vendors! Many gifts were purchased for their siblings and parents, which we thought was so kind of them to think of others while on Experience Week.
Dinner at Amiso was another kind of Korean Hot Pot with stewed meats, kimchi, glass noodles, and soup.
This week, the Grade 9's worked on the concept of WE and not ME; thinking of others when we make choices and how our actions don't only affect us but those around us as well. The staff decided to select one student from each of the 7 groups who consistently showed the best global thinking, consideration of others, selflessness, and contributions to the group. We also selected a best overall male and female student who went above and beyond to demonstrate these qualities.
Top Students of the 'WE'ek:
Kelly Si
Ray Qiu
Vasco Gonçalves Neto Ferrão
Cecily Vong
Emilia Chen
Aichara Blanco
Sofia Wong
Harmon Lei
Each of these students were consistently on time, positive, engaged in all activities, helpful to other classmates, communicative with teachers, and generally had a great attitude towards Community, Action and Service which are the pillars of our Experience Week.
Chosen for or demonstrating exceptional positivity, community, and good spirit. Vivi embodied joy in her interactions with others, in having new experiences, and made others feel welcome.
Chosen for being quick to volunteer for any activity, demonstrating maturity in his actions, and welcoming all classmates into his friend group so that no one was left out.
We've had a truly great week here in Seoul and are excited to see how the bonds these students have formed continue to flourish throughout the remainder of the school year.