Adaptation of Latin American Overseas Korean Students in the Yonsei Environment

South Korea’s homogenous culture often sparks cultural clashes with foreign countries, particularly Latin America. Some argue that these clashes are the result of different cultural origins; Korean culture is primarily based on Buddhist ideals whereas Latin American culture is based on Catholic principles. Many sectors in Korean society show these disparities and are particularly visible in university environments. The 2022 census of Yonsei University shows that 5,377 of the total 29,832 undergraduates are international students on the Main Campus [1]. With the inclusion of these diverse backgrounds in the university, cultural clashes are inevitable, which explains that for some Latin American students it costs them to adapt to Korean society. Yonsei has developed several programs and activities to resolve these cultural incompatibilities and promote a more multicultural atmosphere. The causes of these cultural clashes need to be examined in order to accurately portray insights from international students' experiences adjusting to Korean society, and university officials need to evaluate the actions Yonsei has taken to build a more multicultural environment.

The prominent religious and idealist origin of the cultures is one of the leading reasons behind the distinction between Korean and Latin American cultures. For Korea, Buddhism was the fundamental pillar of its civilization even before the Joseon Dynasty. The concept of filial piety in Buddhism, for example, surged the infamous honorific terms, such as “oppa,” “unnie,” “noona,” and “hyung.” Major differentiation arises from this concept of age hierarchy through incorporations, such as bowing to elders, honorific expressions between people of differing ages, and respectful body language. On the other hand, such expressions are foreign to most Latin American countries, where the culture is much more open-minded and lenient. In the situation of many Latin American countries, the colonization by Spain led to Catholicism becoming the official religion; currently, 64.9% of the Latin American population identifies as Catholic, which explains their Christian traditions and values [2]. Considering these juxtaposed roots, cultural clashes between these two cultures are inevitable. To delve deeper into the cultural disparity, Jun-young Park, a sophomore at Yonsei of the class of 2022, offered first-hand experiences of the challenges he faced when adapting to Yonsei.

Park lived in Guatemala for most of his life. However, as he was raised in a Korean household, there were no major issues in his adaptation to a Korean university. He highlighted the cultural differences that he noticed after completing his freshman year, regarding military service and the texting culture. As a young man in his early twenties, one of the major concerns that he had was the mandatory military service he had to complete. His perspective towards the required service as a waste of time differed from the perspective that many Koreans held. People around him viewed this obligation not only as a duty for the country, but also as a step to build character and incorporate oneself adequately into society. Of course, this was a foreign view to him as mandatory military service is an unknown concept in Guatemala. It is no surprise that this cultural difference cost him socially as he needed extra time to comprehend and come to terms with Korea’s take on military service.  

Another difference he faced was the texting culture, specifically with slang. Shortened words for terms, like iced americano, and the quick frequency of texting were factors that constrained him from fully engaging in conversations. Park felt that this was one of the circumstances that held him back from developing closer relationships with native Korean students. Native speakers commonly use slang in the Spanish language but rarely use disyllabic shortened ones. As a matter of fact, this type of slang is difficult for even older populations in Korea to follow and use in everyday life. Nevertheless, Park pointed out that there were benefits of being an Overseas Korean, such as being able to relate to various cultures and having a somewhat easier time adapting to life in Korea. He grew accustomed to using the slang and even uses it on a daily basis now. He is also preparing to start his “dreadful” military service. Overall, he stated that there were only minor difficulties in his adaptation to Yonsei culture.

Acknowledging these disparities between these cultures, Yonsei attempted to lessen these frictions by implementing international programs, clubs, and even an only English-instruction college. Programs, like the Buddy Program, welcome and encourage interactions between cultures by matching native Korean students with foreigners to promote community and friendship among peers. Additionally, Yonsei has a number of clubs that welcome foreigners and focus on helping them integrate into Korean culture. These programs and clubs are gateways for international students to experience Korean culture in a less upfront manner and to interact in a multicultural environment. Obviously, the establishment of Underwood International College (UIC) and Global Leaders College (GLC) demonstrates Yonsei's open-arms approach towards promoting diversity, including the various scholarships available for these endeavors.

Within the presence of a multicultural context, conflict in perspectives, mindsets, and cultures will always be present, posing obstacles in the adaptation to Korean culture for many. As even Overseas Koreans struggle to sometimes adapt to Korean culture, Latin American students face even more hurdles. Yonsei has taken initiatives to promote an improved multicultural-friendly environment as a response. It is important to note that to further promote inclusivity and cultural acceptance, Yonsei needs to remember that there are always opportunities to leverage the interconnection of cultures within itself. 

[1] Yonsei at a Glance

[2] Cairn International