Student Report: Study Abroad - Korea University (Ms. Sakurako Kuraguchi)

Ms. Kuraguchi (蔵口 桜子) (3rd year of a 5-year integrated doctoral program) spent two months in the laboratory of Prof. Gilsoo Jang at Korea University, where she conducted research with the goal of co-authoring a paper with the lab members.
*Please note that the original report submitted by the student is written in Japanese. The English translation is provided for reference purposes only.

Visiting Institution
滞在先・機関

Korea University (South Korea) /高麗大学（韓国）

Period of Stay
滞在期間

From September 22, 2025 to November 28, 2025

Impressions of the Host Institution and Environment/ Differences from Japan
滞在先の印象・日本との違い

研究室：Jang教授は非常に忙しい方だったが、その分学生が主体的に研究室を運営していた。週１回のゼミがあり、研究で行き詰まったところなどは博士学生に相談するか、隔週で教授にフィードバックを貰うような体制であった。
生活面：地下鉄の運賃が日本に比べて安く、交通の便が非常に良かった。一方、物価は非常に高く、自炊と外食のコストに差が無かった。

Laboratory: Although Professor Jang was extremely busy, the students took the initiative in managing the laboratory. Weekly seminars were held, and when students encountered difficulties in their research, they would consult PhD students or receive feedback from the professor on a biweekly basis.

Daily Life: Subway fares were cheaper than in Japan, making transportation very convenient. On the other hand, the cost of living was quite high, and there was little difference in cost between cooking at home and eating out.

My Experiences During the Program
滞在先での体験談

研究室の皆が、年齢問わずフレンドリーであり、済州島での学会聴講にも参加させてもらい素敵な思い出となった。また、訪問期間中、秋夕という連休があったので様々な場所を観光し、ソウルの街や人により深く触れる機会となった。その際、現地の皆さんがとても親切に接してくださり、何かしら困っていても対応していただけて有り難かった。

All members of the laboratory were friendly, regardless of age, and I was even able to participate in a conference in Jeju Island, which became a wonderful memory. During my visit, the Chuseok holiday also occurred, allowing me to travel to various places and gain a deeper experience of the city of Seoul and its people. On those occasions, the local people were very kind and helpful, always willing to assist whenever I encountered any difficulties, for which I was truly grateful.

What I Gained from the Experience for My Future Career
滞在して良かったと思う点・今後に活かせると思う点

コミュニケーションについて改めて深く考える契機となった。韓国での生活を始めた当初は、英語で話すことはできても韓国語の会話内容がほとんど理解できず、言葉の壁の大きさを痛感していた。しかし、およそ１ヶ月を共に過ごすうちに、韓国語そのものは分からなくとも、相手の意図や文脈を推し量りながら理解できるようになった。言語とは本質的に思考や感情を媒介する一つの道具にすぎず、人と人が向き合い続けることで、その道具を超えて意思疎通は成立し得るのだと実感した。むしろ、そうした「言語以外の情報を受け取る力」は、あらゆる場面において多様なバックグラウンドを持つ相手との議論でこそ重要になるだろう。

This experience gave me an opportunity to deeply reconsider the nature of communication. When I first began living in Korea, I could speak in English, but I could hardly understand conversations in Korean, and I felt the full weight of the language barrier. However, after spending about a month together with others, I gradually became able to understand not the Korean words themselves, but the speaker’s intentions and context. I realized that language is essentially just a tool for conveying thoughts and emotions, and that genuine communication can occur beyond the limitations of language when people engage with one another sincerely. In fact, the ability to grasp information beyond words may be even more crucial in discussions with people from diverse backgrounds in any context.

Other Comments or Reflections
その他

研究生活において、今回の高麗大学訪問は非常に貴重な経験となりました。今回の滞在をサポートして下さった関係者の皆様に厚く御礼申し上げます。

My visit to Korea University was an extremely valuable experience for my research life. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to everyone who supported my stay.