2026 Schedule

Program Dates

Arrival in Seoul & Residence Check-in:

Day 1: Tuesday June 23
Day 2: Wednesday June 24

Note: You can choose to arrive on either day at no extra cost.

SeoulQuest 2026 Convocation & Orientation:

Day 1: Thursday June 25, 2026
Day 2: Friday June 26, 2026

Ewha Korean Language Course Begins:

Monday June 29, 2026

Ewha Korean Language Course Concludes:

Friday August 7, 2026

Individual Capstone Showcase & Completion Ceremony:

Monday August 10, 2026

Departure from Korea:

Day 1: Wednesday August 12, 2026
Day 2: Thursday August 13, 2026

Note: You may choose to depart on either day at no extra cost.

Chronological Curriculum

The SeoulQuest journey is structured as a chronological investigation. Every Sunday marks the start of a new historical unit, explored through expert colloquiums, immersive field studies, curated cinema, and thematic cuisine.

Each week builds upon the last, allowing scholars to decipher the complex threads that weave together Korea’s past, present, and future. Our goal is for students to return home with a profound empathy for Korea’s transformation, having lived the story of a nation in the order it unfolded.

Phase I

Foundations and Resilience

Week One

The Joseon Dynasty

Field Study: Royal Palace Architecture & King Sejong’s Legacy.

Culinary Immersion: Traditional Royal Court Cuisine.

Expert Colloquium: Professor Choi Byeong-heon on Joseon Literary Traditions.

Cinema: The King’s Letters.

Exploration: Hangeul Museum, Calligraphy Mastery, and Jongmyo Shrine.

Week Two

The Colonial Era & Independence Movement

Field Study: Jinwansa Temple and the Spirit of Resistance at Bukhansan.

Culinary Immersion: Chueok Dosirak (Historic Ration Boxes).

Expert Colloquium: Specialized briefing on the Resistance Movement.

Cinema: The Age of Shadows.

Exploration: Seodaemun Prison History Museum, Dilkusha, and Tapgol Park.

Week Three

The Korean War & Division of the Peninsula

Field Study: The Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) and the Geometry of Division.

Culinary Immersion: Authentic North Korean Cuisine.

Expert Colloquium: Personal Narrative with a North Korean Defector.

Cinema: Joint Security Area (JSA).

Exploration: War Memorial of Korea, Unification Media Group, and the National Library.

Phase II

Transformation and Global Power

Week Four

The Miracle on the Han River

Field Study: Overnight Trip to Suncheon and Gwangju.

Culinary Immersion: Regional Delicacies of the Jeolla Province.

Expert Colloquium: Special Briefing on the 5.18 Democratic Movement.

Cinema: Ode to My Father.

Exploration: Museum of Korean Contemporary History and the Path of Democracy.

Week Five

The Democratic Republic & Global Soft Power

Field Study: Nami Island Exploration & The 1988 Olympic Legacy.

Culinary Immersion: Chuncheon Dakgalbi.

Expert Colloquium: The 1988 Seoul Olympics and Korea’s Global Debut.

Cinema: A Taxi Driver.

Exploration: The Blue House (Cheong Wa Dae), National Assembly, and Chungmuro Film Street.

Week Six

Modernity & The Digital Age

Field Study: Hallyu Immersion & The Architecture of Lotte World Tower.

Culinary Immersion: Final Graduation Banquet.

Expert Colloquium: Carlos from Abnormal Summit on Global Cultural Exchange.

Cinema: Parasite.

Exploration: SM Museum Tour, Seoullo 7017, and Modern K-Pop Aesthetics.

Sample Weekly Schedule

Day	Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
9:00 am – 1:00 pm		Korean Language Course	Korean Language Course	Korean Language Course	Korean Language Course	Korean Language Course
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm		Communal Lunch	Communal Lunch	Communal Lunch	Communal Lunch	Communal Lunch	Thematic Field Study
Afternoon Session	Independent Exploration	Film Screening & Discussion	Expert Lecture or Museum Visit	Independent Exploration	Undergraduate Mentor Sessions	Individualized Capstone Project (ICP)	Independent Exploration

DAY	9:00 am – 1:00 pm	1:00 pm – 2:00 pm	Afternoon Session
SUN			Independent Exploration
MON	Korean Language Course	Communal Lunch	Film Screening & Discussion
TUE	Korean Language Course	Communal Lunch	Expert Lecture or Museum Visit
WED	Korean Language Course	Communal Lunch	Independent Exploration
THU	Korean Language Course	Communal Lunch	Undergraduate Mentor Sessions
FRI	Korean Language Course	Communal Lunch	Individualized Capstone Project (ICP)
SAT		Thematic Field Study	Independent Exploration

Activities are subject to minor refinements as we continue to curate the highest level of expert access for the 2026 cohort.