Retired professors have stepped up to the plate to help international students adapt to life in Korea. They have generously offered to open their homes and treat international students to a tasty Korean meal.

A group of retired professors took four Vietnamese students out to a Korean restaurant for lunch on the 24소. They talked about food and campus life. After the meal, they went to one of the professor’s home for dessert.

This all started a few years back with the proposal of Professor Ha Nam-ju, a retired academic of pharmacy. He saw the difficulty international students experienced due to cultural differences and decided to open his doors for a get-together. As soon as the news spread, more than 10 professors eagerly expressed their interest.

“International students rarely have the opportunity to visit Korean households. I want to break bread and share Korean “jung” and culture. Although it is just a small gathering, I will continue meeting with students to find out what their needs are and start a scholarship program,” said Lee Gi-gap, Professor of English Literature.

Hadoui Kai (28, Vietnam), who has been in Korea for six months, expressed gratitude for “the opportunity to learn about life and culture in Korea.”