Volunteer in Korea (KDI School Volunteer Club)

In this episode of blog, i want to share about one of my favorite activities in Korea, that is volunteering work.

In Korea, you can see people volunteer in many activities and volunteering in Korea can be performed by almost all age groups. Even if you are still elementary students, you can join volunteer works and I heard that even the Korean students can get the points by doing volunteering works, so that when they collect many points, it can help them to enter the university.

 

In my Graduate School, there is also this club called "Volunteer Club". This is really a good club because you can do a good deed while in Korea by participating in this club. Other than that, doing volunteer work can also give plus points for your resume. The thing that I really like from this club is we can do many different activities and at the same time interacting with Korean people directly. This because the volunteer works that we did is aimed at helping or providing benefits to residents or the local community in our city (Sejong City). 

Here are several volunteer works that me and my friends did in Korea

Entertaining the elderly people

The first time of my volunteer work in Korea is to entertain the elderly people who stay in Sejong Evergreen House. I heard that some of the elderly people stay here were sick. That's why we came here to make them not feel lonely and to entertain them in order to make them happy:) We danced and played games together. There is one Korean student from our school that helped us by being a translator. But anyway, even though these elderly people can't speak english and we barely speak Korean, we try to understand each other, especially with the body language lol. We ended up laughing together and having fun together.

Singing together

Now we are not awkward anymore :)

Good job for today

Cleaning Sejong Lake Park

This volunteer work requires physical work and extra energy. Why??? Haha, from the title, maybe you guys already know. This because we need to clean the Sejong Lake Park by picking up the trash. This was actually pretty simple work. However, I still remember at that time it was summer and me and my moslem friends were fasting. Wow, that's quite a challenge but still we had fun though. And the thing that made me remember this work the most was because it was sooooooo hard to find trash here lol. Really i didn't lie. Sejong Lake Park was already clean from the first time so that our task is more like to find trash rather than to pick up the trash. This because we barely find trash. But, finally, I was succeed to find trash (and that's a lot of trash in one trash bag which was left near the bushes). Maybe it came from the people who picnic there. I also didn't know where the trash came from but somehow I feel succeed because finally I can help to pick up and throw that trash >_<

Registration first

Fill the registration form

Imaginary rubbish??? Coz I cant find one

Where to find rubbish. Its already clean.

Finally we pick up trash and throw it to where it should be

Finally doneee. Good job for today too :)

Planting flowers in orphanage

This time, we came to an orphanage which was located in Sejong City. There, they already provide us the flowers and the gardening tools, so we didn't have to bring anything from school. When we arrived, first we were introduced about the orphanage by the staff there. After knowing a little bit history about the orphanage, then the real work was started. At first, I didn't know at all about how to plant that flower because gardening is not really my hobby haha. Luckely, my Korean friend and the staff were able to teach us about how to plant the flowers. After a little bit of tutoring, then finally I was able to do it, dig dig dig the soil and plant the flower. It was not that hard actually. Just had a confidence to do it and you will made it lol. And there were the kids from the orphanage that suddenly came surprised us and helped us. Gomawoyoooo gwiyeomideul. It was tiring, but after all, our hard work was paid by the pretty orphanage garden :)

Let's Go to the Orphanage

First, we were introuduced about the orphanage

Let's start, dig, dig, dig, plant, plant, plant

Another help from these handsome boys

Flower ready to be planted, let's continue this, we can do it

Our hard work

Today is a good job too :) Thank you all.

Exploring my city, Sejong City, the New Administrative City of Korea

Sejong City, have you guys heard about this city before?

Most of you may still unfamiliar to this city, that's why i want to introduce you to this brand new city.

Sejong City was founded in 2007 as the new planned capital of South Korea. The purpose is to ease congestion and crowd in Seoul. If you ever heard Putrajaya City of Malaysia, the reason for the construction of this city might similar like Sejong City. And in Indonesia, you may also know that city in Kalimantan will be built as the new capital city as well because Jakarta is already too crowded. 

Sejong City was planned to become the new administrative city of South Korea, that's why since 2012, the government of South Korea has relocated numerous ministries and agencies to Sejong City. The new buildings of ministries and agencies has been built in Sejong, which is in my opinion the buildings are built with a very great architecture. There is this one building that i saw it has a bridge or connect one building to another building so it can be so much efficient for the civil servant to walk from one agency's building to another.

Not only ministry and agency's buildings, but the apartments were built too in Sejong city. Because civil servants also moved to start living in Sejong City. In 2017, when i studied there, many of my friends who are civil servants already lived in Sejong City. 

Here I will introduce you some places in the Sejong City (I miss those places already T.T).

KDI School of Public Policy and Management

The first place is definitely my lovely school, KDI School of Public Policy and Management, which stands for Korea Development Institute - School of Public Policy and Management. This is a graduate school specialized for Master Degree Studies in the field of Public Policy, Public Management, and Development Policy. If you ever think about continuing your study in those areas, maybe this school can be one of your options. 

The National Library of Sejong City

One of the greatest architectural buildings I've ever seen in real life. This is the main library of Sejong City, super large and very comfortable if you want to study here. If you don't know how to read hangeul, you can also find some books written in English here. 

The Presidential Archive

It's similar to museum, the place to exhibit the records of Korea's Presidents. With such a great building, facilities, and ambience, I believe you will not getting bored learning history of Korea's Presidents in this building.  

Sejong Lake Park

The besttttttttt park in Sejong City. This park is not only large but also very beautiful with the Sejong Lake in the middle of the park. People like to gather here just to relax or take an afternoon walk. Some events also like to be held here, that's why if you're lucky enough, you can meet your favorite idols who might have little concert in this area.

Government Complex Area

As the new administrative city, of course there is new government complex built in this city. The government buildings are close to each other and are built in one area, maybe to make it easier to communicate and perform the tasks. 

Milmaru Observatory

I believe it's the highest place in Sejong, from up here you can watch the whole of Sejong City. 

Sejong City Mall (Home Plus Sejong)

My favorite Mall in Sejong City, because at that time it's the only department store close from my dormitory hehe. As other department stores, there are clothes and shoes stores, restaurants, and supermarket as well.

Sejong Apartment Complex

I like to walk around this area, or maybe to find the toppoki or kimbab store which are close to this area. And there is also No Brand Store near the apartment complex hehe. Very cheap to buy groceries there. 

Mt. Goehwa Neighborhood Park

Korean people like to hiking, and it's the closest hiking areas from our school. The location is just next to our dormitory hehe. I hiked here with my country mates. We lost in the middle of the journey, and somehow we ended up went down and arrive near government complex. Finally we went back to our dormitory using the bus lol. What a hiking experience.  

Handuri Bridge

The aesthetic bridge in Sejong City, really nice to cycling here or just taking a picture here lol. I found this bridge is also featured in one of Korean dramas, monstar.

Sejong Bus Terminal

If you want to go to the other city, you should buy your bus tickets here and wait for your bus in this terminal. When i lived there, I go to Seoul too many times lol, that's why this Sejong Bus terminal is one of my favorite places as well wkwk. 

Korea University Sejong Campus

If you go to a more distant area, near Jochiwon, you can somehow arrive at this beautiful campus. I was really curious about this Korea University because it's one of the best universities in Korea and actually they have their second campus location in Sejong City. That's why i didn't want to miss the chance to visit this university.

That's all the story of my beloved city, my second home, Sejong city. 

Sejong City will always have a special place in my heart. Every time I remember Sejong City, I will remember all my lovely friends, my great professors, and the beautiful memories saved there.