Everything began when Chonnam National University gave us the opportunity to change our perception of traveling to foreign countries. It is a tremendous chance to discover, investigate, study and of course enjoy experiencing the culture and national spirit of the country you visit.

My teammates and I chose to visit Ukraine during the winter vacation. Ukraine is an Eastern European country, so as you may guess, to get there requires some time. Ukrainian weather conditions have a lot in common with Korean ones. During the winter, there is plenty of snow and even a little wind. But it did not stop us from enjoying such a beautiful, rich history in a land which is the largest contiguous country on the European continent.

This was my first trip abroad, which made my anticipation way more thrilling then I had ever thought possible. Kyiv was the first in our list of cities to visit. I can say without hesitation that Kyiv with its great, ancient history, with countless cathedrals, world-famous catacombs, bell-towers and museum collections fascinated us.

Beginning our journey from the Ukrainian capital city of Kyiv, we made sure to visit the most developed Korean firms and corporations located in the capital. Actually, we were really curious about how the Korean way of doing business was applicable to Ukrainian economics. Among the places visited were Pantost, Samsung, LG, Ceragem and some others. I think Ukraine has the chance to become a good and supportive business partner with Korea on a global level.

Also, one of the most fascinating and unique things about Kyiv is its ancient history with its priceless heritage. We visited the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra which part of a World Heritage Site recognized by UNESCO. Then we went to the National Botanical Garden, where we experienced an incredible flower exhibition held during the winter vacation. In addition, we had an unforgettable experience on Kyiv’s famous Kreshatik Street.

Unfortunately time was running out fast and we had to be getting ready to move on. Actually, neither I nor my friends wanted to leave this gorgeous city with it warm and friendly environment. I want to tell one more thing about Ukraine: its exceptional national cuisine. The cookery, stunning you with its variety, includes delicious borscht and vareniki, which just tempt you to eat it. To me, Kyiv seems really beautiful, generous, and open to discovery.

The week was almost over, so we started packing to move on to our next destination point – Crimea. Crimea is a peninsula in southeastern Ukraine. I want to direct your attention to the region’s climate. I would say it reminded me of Jeju Island. The wind was so prevalent that we were freezing on some of our journeys. But despite this cold we enjoyed it a lot. We visited its unforgettably beautiful Black Sea, Swallow’s Nest at Yalta and countless palaces such as Vorontsov’s, the Palace of the Khans, and Livadia palace across the Crimea Region. Moreover, we met Ukrainian primary and middle school students; this meeting was supported by the Korean Diaspora in Crimea. The kids were so outgoing and curious about us. We have taught them some Korean national traditions, also presented Hanbok - the traditional Korean dress. They loved it so much.

From this trip we have learned how to travel right and stay cool in any situation. Also it was a challenge to prove how strong our relationships could be by being through different types of situations. I never actually thought how country with such a different culture, traditions and people could entice you to visit. Even though Ukraine is not a part of the European Union it does not diminishes its worth as self sustainable country. Despite all the economic problems and political issues, Ukraine stays compatible and adaptable in the global arena. We fell in love with you – Ukraine!

 

By Kim Min-su, Guest Reporter