On November 7 from 10 A.M. to 4 P.M., the ninth International Students Festival (ISF) was held at People’s Square at Korea University (KU). ISF is an annual event held in every November and it marked its ninth anniversary this year. Hwang Hye-Ran (’07, Law), the head of planning department of KU Buddy Assistant (KUBA), said, “We prepared this event to provide opportunities for foreign students, who came to Korea and KU, to share their cultures and for KU students to become close friends with foreign students.”

Overall, the event was successful. Exchange students, as well as KU students, from 29 countries participated in the event and introduced their cultures to visitors. In fact, not only KU students, but also many other foreigners and young students visited the event. Students from each country took charge of one booth, wearing traditional clothes, and received guests. Together with KUBAs, they prepared specialties of their country and caught attention from visitors with small events, such as angry birds game prepared by students from Finland.

▲ Photographed by Choi Ji Won

Emre Korkmaz (Graduate School of Korean Language and Literature), a student from Turkey, said, “It is going perfect. I hoped to see lots of people coming. Lots of people are visiting here to learn about Turkish culture and language, and they also talk about going to Turkey and what they would like to see in Turkey.” A student from Peru, Sandra Paredes (21, Peru), an exchange student from Universidad San Ignacio de Loyola, said, “It is really interesting. I find it really nice that we can meet almost all countries here, wearing traditional costumes, showing their culture, and cooking for other students.”

Kim Hye-Jin (’12, Foreign Languages and Literatures), who visited the event, said, “I came here because I heard some bustling sounds. I find the event very interesting and there are many delicious foods.” However, she also pointed out that the event does not seem to be much helpful in becoming close friends with foreign students, as students only visit each booth and eat foods, without having conversations.