Kangwon National University Intercultural Exchange Promotion Program

Kangwon National University offers a variety of programs designed to promote interaction between international students and Korean students. Among them, this article introduces three key programs: the Tutoring Program, the Buddy Program, and the SpeaKo Program.

Tutoring Program
The Tutoring Program pairs one Korean student with one international student for a semester to support the international student’s academic progress and cultural adaptation. Applications are open between January and February for the spring semester (February–May), and between July and August for the fall semester (August–November).

Activities include helping with course registration and other aspects of campus life, providing Korean language guidance, and introducing Korean culture. To support students who may be unsure about which activities to do, the Office of International Affairs provides monthly themed missions.

Any international student who has completed at least two semesters and needs academic or cultural support may apply. Participants can receive program completion credit by engaging in at least eight sessions or a minimum of 16 hours of activity during the semester. Upon completion, students earn non-curricular mileage points, and outstanding teams may receive scholarships.

Buddy Program
The Buddy Program connects Korean students with exchange students from KNU’s partner universities to help them adjust to life in Korea.

Participants can receive support with administrative tasks such as course registration or dormitory fee payments. They can also enjoy campus-related activities together, such as campus tours or visiting festival booths, allowing exchange students to create memorable experiences with their buddies.

Like the Tutoring Program, the Buddy Program also provides non-curricular mileage points upon completion.

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SpeaKo Program

The SpeaKo Program is designed for international undergraduate and graduate students who can communicate in Korean and want to improve their speaking skills.

Each team consists of two to three international students and one Korean team leader. The team leader serves as a mentor, selecting a speaking topic each session and leading related conversation activities. Through these sessions, international students receive support in areas such as pronunciation and sentence construction.

Both international undergraduate and graduate students may participate, and selection is on a first-come, first-served basis. Unlike the Tutoring and Buddy Programs, SpeaKo operates during the vacation period. Upon completion, participants receive non-curricular program credit, and each member is given a 10,000-won university co-op coupon, which can be used at on-campus cafeterias and the bookstore.

  Kim Ye Ji

<kimyeji4223@naver.com>