Why Yonsei University International Student Choose to Live at EPISODE SINCHON CAMPUS

"Hello, my name is Maya."

Maya greeted us slowly and clearly in Korean. It was hard not to be impressed by her natural pronunciation and expressive command of the language.

We met Maya at Episode Sinchon Campus, a lively and curious international student from Austin, Texas. She has already experienced life in Korea as an exchange student and is now preparing to pursue a master’s degree in Korean studies. As she continues her connection with Korea, she shared honest insights into what kind of living space she was looking for while studying in Sinchon, as well as how she overcomes the challenges of life as an international student.

My name is Maya, and I’m from Austin, Texas. I completed my undergraduate degree in Asian Studies and plan to start my master’s degree in Korean Studies next spring. Last year, I studied at Yonsei University as an exchange student for about six months.

What were the most important factors you considered when looking for a place to live in Korea?

For me, location is the most important. As a university student, I have to go to classes early and sometimes return late because of club activities. So being close to school and being able to get home safely matters a lot. Also, I’ve had trouble living in older houses with issues like mold, so I wanted something new and clean. Safety is very important too.

Why did you choose Episode Sinchon Campus?

From the first impression, I felt it was very clean and safe. I liked the fingerprint door locks. The location is great — close to Yonsei University and well connected to subway line 2, so it’s easy to get anywhere. I also love the Yeonhui-dong neighborhood and the bus stop right nearby. The design of the space was thoughtful. There are private rooms but also many shared spaces. in the kitchen, there is a wall to block cooking smells from reaching the dining area — small details like that impressed me.

The rooftop garden was my favorite. It was the first space I visited, and I loved how well-maintained the flowers were and the beautiful view. On nice days, I’d love to spend time reading or listening to music there. I also really liked the dining space. I enjoy cooking and imagined inviting friends and family to share meals there. The music listening room was interesting too. I’d love to join community events like movie nights.

How has your life as an international student been? Do you ever feel homesick or face any challenges?

Sometimes, I do feel lonely while studying abroad. Korean students are very busy, and because of Korea’s fast-paced culture, it’s hard to have natural small talk or make friends easily. That’s why having shared living spaces and a community like Episode is really helpful and appealing to me.
Episode Sinchon Campus is more than just a place to sleep. It offers safety, convenience, thoughtful design, and a community that helps you connect with others naturally. I believe this place will be a great support for me while I study in Seoul.

In Korea, everything moves quickly because of the “빨리 빨리(hurry-hurry)” culture.

It can be hard to meet new people naturally, but what I really loved about Episode Sinchon Campus was the sense of living together in a shared community.