Students and professors from Harvard University, here on a tour of the Harvard-Radcliffe Orchestra, visit Jingwan Temple in Eunpyeong District, northwestern Seoul, March 12. Yonhap
The influx of international students to Korea, driven by a desire to both learn and travel, is on the rise as the concept of "learncation" gains popularity. The word itself is a combination of the words learn and vacation.
This new trend offers individuals the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of Korea's culture through educational experiences and academic exchanges, beyond just conventional tourism.
Among the international students, individuals from the United States and European countries make up a significant proportion. According to the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO), the number of U.S. and European students visiting Korea for learncations surged from 519 in 2019 to 1,445 in the first half of this year.
Amid the increasing overall number of visitors to Korea, the KTO expects that the number of U.S. and European students visiting Korea could reach 3,000 by the end of the year.
Including the anticipated visitors by the end of the year, the number is expected to show a sixfold increase over five years.
From March 9 to 18, 93 student members of the Harvard-Radcliffe Orchestra, who came to Korea to perform across the country, also took opportunities when they weren't on stage to experience the local culture, exploring major tourist attractions in downtown Seoul such as Gyeongbok Palace and Ikseon-dong, renowned for its array of traditional buildings.
They also experienced meditation and temple food at Jingwan Temple in northwestern Seoul.
During their visit, they not only engaged in cultural activities but also interacted with Korean university students through joint performances with Ewha Womans University's orchestra club, ESAOS.
Similarly, 21 students from Yale University's a cappella club are currently in Korea for a learncation. Students plan to visit Seoul and Paju in Gyeonggi Province and Jeju Island until Sunday.
They will experience diverse aspects of Korean culture, watching performances of "nanta" — a comic musical nonverbal performance derived from traditional Korean percussion instruments — and exploring the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).
Jeong Ran-soo, an adjunct professor in the Department of Tourism at Hanyang University, emphasized the significance of the expansion of learncations.
"Traditionally, a trip to Korea has often centered on consumption, such as shopping. However, by integrating more cultural and educational elements, visitors can extend their stays, not only helping them to deeply understand the culture but also invigorating the tourism sector," he said.
He also views learncations as a positive trend, both in terms of its impact and the potential for the country's growth.
"When individuals with interest in learning visit the country, it enhances the depth of understanding and dissemination of Korean culture," Jeong said.
Korean culture has often been associated with entertainment content like K-pop performances, Korean celebrities and K-dramas. However, the increase in learncations is expected to broaden the scope of Korean culture.
"As interest in Korea continues to grow through various platforms, the number of visits to Korea for learncations will increase more," Jeong said.