I was motivated by the opportunity to work overseas and to experience Asia beyond the usual assumptions. Importantly, I was very curious to what Busan could offer as a port city. I was curious about how a regional Asian city with strong history and identity positions itself globally in its own way.
The company I eventually worked with, The Hyuil, strongly aligned with my personal values — especially their belief in integrating meaningful work with life, rest, and joy. Before this internship, I did not think such a work model truly existed. Experiencing it firsthand reshaped how I view productivity, creativity, and sustainability in work.
As a Human-Centred Futures Design major, I was also motivated to stretch beyond rigid job titles. Instead of waiting for a “perfect match,” I wanted to bring what I had learned into the role and offer more than what was initially asked for. This flexibility allowed me to contribute in ways that were both meaningful to the company and aligned with my interdisciplinary training.
My overall experience was full of surprises and helped me grow exponentially. While my projects were related to tourism and international-facing work, the experience went far beyond a conventional internship.
Living and working in Busan meant building a life abroad — learning to love the rhythm of a coastal city, learning to love the time spent alone by the beach and sea, and forming close friendships with my Korean colleagues and locals. The experience pushed me to grow independently, emotionally, and culturally, making it one of the most transformative periods of my undergraduate journey.
I am extremely grateful to IIE for the GII programme, which made it possible for students like me to grow abroad with meaningful institutional support.
Through this experience, I strengthened my ability to work across languages and cultures, and gained a deeper understanding of Asia as a lived, dynamic space rather than an abstract academic concept. It allowed me to apply real human-centred thinking in real-world Asian contexts.
Professionally, the experience gave me greater confidence and clarity. It reinforced my interest in global-facing roles and projects that bridge Asia and the global stage, and affirmed my belief in interdisciplinary, people-centred approaches to work.
Asia is closest to us, yet still endlessly complex and surprising. Busan, in particular, intrigued me far more than I had expected.
