No one said that being a foreign student in a faraway country was going to be easy. Many foreigners struggle to make friends and have trouble not falling into being that one foreign student โ the outsider. Sometimes it does not come naturally. Meeting someone might not be that hard, but getting close to them is a whole different story! If you want to make close friends as a student in Korea, Dongari culture is the key
Introducing Dongari Culture
Koreans generally donโt make friends during class. People normally draw a hard line at appropriate times to make friends and have fun. With classroom competition being what it is, most Koreans prefer not to become friends with their classmates.
But do not worry, because there is a way to make a lot of Korean friends in university and become an absolute โinssaโ: people who never miss out on the fun! The best way to make friends in South Korean universities is to join a dongari, or university club.
Types of Dongari
These university clubs go from things such as sports (any sport you could imagine: football, basketball, taekwondo, table tennis, baseball, scuba diving, swimming, climbingโฆ), music and dance (from rock bands to classical music, from K-pop dances to traditional music!), photography, board games, religion, e-sports, history, etc.
There are different types of clubs. Some are open to all students of the university. Some are department clubs, which can only be joined by the students of a certain department.
How a University Clubs Work
They usually have a fixed time in which they meet weekly. As for the ones I am in, for example, we meet once a week. The amount of time we take for the club activities depends on the club. Clubs that require members to practice together, such as music clubs, often meet several times a week and for a few hours.
What is even better is that clubs give an amazing opportunity for people to get together and bond: what Koreans call โdwi-puriโ (๋คํ์ด). โDwiโ means โafterโ or โbehindโ; while โpuriโ refers to untangling something. Simple explanation: going to have dinner and drink with the rest of the members of the club after the club activities! This is usually done after every meeting, so you will have the opportunity to go eat and drink with them every week and get closer to them. Is it not great?
How to Enter a University Club
Dongaris are usually promoted either in the university community app, Everytime, or in booths on campus when the semester begins. Most of them will have a form or link (in the case of Everytime), or a place where you can write your contact information down (for the booths).
There is certain information you need to take into consideration before joining a club. First of all, what it is about! You should find a club that you are interested in. Club introductions are usually stated on university apps, including pictures of previous years.
What to Consider Before Joining
You should also make sure that you do have time to participate in the club meetings. Even though attendance at every meeting is not mandatory, it is appreciated. Members should be responsible and attend as many meetings as possible. The club delegate (hoejang in Korean), as well as those in charge of organizing each meeting, work hard to prepare interesting and fun club activities. So, do not forget about all the time and effort these students put into the club. Make sure to attend the meetings as much as possible!
In addition, I would recommend asking about what is necessary for joining the club. Even though most clubs accept absolute beginners or people who are unaware of the topic yet, you should ask first!
For some clubs, there may be necessary materials for you to have. For example, if you join a music club, you might need your own instrument. All the clubs I checked with at my school, already had the necessary materials for all the members, but it is never bad to check and make sure.
Ask about the club fee, too. Some clubs do not have it, but many do, especially those in which it is necessary to rent a place to practice or conduct the activities or where materials are necessary.
Lastly, it is important to note that some dongaris conduct interviews before accepting someone as a member. Many times, you might not pass an interview in Korean, and there is a lot of competition! So do not be nervous and do your best. Apply for more than one dongari during application season in increase your chances of joining one. Also, do not be sad even if you do not make it, since dongaris usually recruit members at least once a year, but some do it even twice, in the first and second semesters.
Why You Should Join a Dongari
I have personally met so many lovely people thanks to dongaris. Apart from doing something you enjoy, you can get close to a lot of people that might end up taking an important spot in your life.
Many dongaris also have MTs (student trips) and field trips. Some (depending on the university and the dongari) also have their own dongari room on campus where students can meet freely. Participating actively in a dongari also is a good point in your curriculum! So do not be afraid to go for it, and try joining one! It is a good way of integrating oneself into Korean society and Korean university life. You will not regret doing it. Good luck!
Not a university student in Korea, but still struggling to make friends in Korea? Click Here to read other tips for making friends in South Korea!
