Nov 26, 2025

Students’ Adventure in South Korea

The KFUPM Explores team’s journey to South Korea became a memorable dive into a country that blends modern brilliance with deep cultural roots. Although the destination was assigned to them, the team embraced the experience with genuine curiosity, determined to understand Korea beyond what appears on screens.

Their adventure began in Seoul on October 25th, 2025, where the energy of the city set the tone for everything that followed. They visited Lotte World Adventure, explored the academic atmosphere at Seoul National University, and stopped by the Saudi Embassy, a meaningful moment of connection abroad. They wandered through the lively streets of Myeongdong and Gangnam, enjoyed the panoramic views from N Seoul Tower, explored the vast Olympic Park, and took in the retail buzz at Yeoju Premium Outlets.

Their journey continued south to Busan, a coastal gem with its own character. They experienced the thrill of the Skyline Luge, explored the vibrant colors of Gamcheon Culture Village, and visited Al-Fattah Mosque, finding a comforting sense of familiarity. They enjoyed sweeping views from Hwangnyeongsan Observatory, walked along Haeundae Beach and Market, admired the shoreline at the Cheongsapo Daritdol Observatory, and explored the lively Seomyeon district. The team wrapped up their experience with more excitement at Lotte World Adventure Busan.

Throughout their time in Korea, the students were struck by the contrasts they encountered, high public awareness, widespread luxury car ownership despite lower average incomes, and at the same time, pockets of weaker infrastructure and social challenges that rarely appear online. Their interactions with locals were simple and ordinary, a reminder that people often meet each other with straightforward openness rather than dramatic reactions.

Traveling together shaped their growth as much as the places themselves. The team leader, usually strict, learned the value of flexibility, patience, and handling challenges calmly. Delays, disagreements, and unexpected moments became opportunities to practice maturity and wise decision-making.

The journey left them with deeper reflections about life, meaning, and the complexity of the world. They returned with a renewed understanding that purpose matters more than material achievements, and that true growth lies in how we nourish our souls, not just our ambitions. And, above all, this experience embodied KFUPM’s goal, living two of KFUPM’s Students Seven Habits: seeking global experience and practicing self-reliance through real-world responsibility and independent action. It was a reminder that such journeys do more than teach; they transform.