It has been a little while since the POSCO GYP program ended, and I still find myself returning to those ten months in Pohang more often than I expected. I wanted to write some of it down — partly to hold on to the memory, and partly for whoever comes next and wants to know what the year can be.
The program doesn’t hand you a fixed itinerary. It gives you time, support, and a place to be, and most of what the year becomes is left to you. Some of the scholars I met spent their breaks travelling; others stayed close and got to know Korea slowly. What follows is mostly my own year, with a few glimpses of what others did — take it as one version of many.
The campus
The program is based at POSTECH, in Pohang, a coastal city on the east of South Korea. The campus sits a little apart from the city, and I spent most of my days inside it.
It is a green campus. There are trees along most of the walkways and a pond near the cafeteria where I would sit when I needed a break from studying. In spring the cherry blossoms come out for a couple of weeks. The library has several reading areas, each with a slightly different feel, so it was easy to find a corner that suited the day.
Next to Dorm 16 there is a community center that stays open through the night — study rooms, a small cinema, soundproof rooms for practising an instrument, a yoga room, and a gym. I used it more than I expected to, usually late at night.
The coursework
I came in mostly interested in AI, and POSTECH had enough courses in that area to keep me busy. The material was current, which matters in a field that moves quickly. The courses were demanding — POSTECH has a reputation for that — but the workload felt fair, and I learned a great deal.
Language was not the barrier I had worried about. There were enough English-taught courses to build a full schedule. A few of the other scholars went further into research and spent the year in labs, which seemed to be its own kind of education.
I also took courses outside of tech, which I had not planned to. An art history course used a virtual museum to walk through the works, and a media course paired film screenings with the discussion. Those classes ended up being some of the ones I remember best.
Seeing Korea together
The program organizes trips through the year, and these were where a lot of the friendships formed. We went to Busan, did a temple stay at Golgulsa, and spent time in Seoul. There were meals at places someone had read about, old monuments, and the ordinary in-between hours on buses and trains that I think I remember most fondly.
There were also visits to POSCO and some of its subsidiary companies — a look at the industrial side of Korea, and at the organization behind the scholarship. It was a useful contrast to campus life.
The people
If I kept one thing from the year, it is the people. The scholars came from all over, and we arrived not knowing each other. By the end, Dorm 16 felt less like a dormitory and more like a place full of friends. We came as strangers and left as something closer to a family. That is the part I did not anticipate, and the part I am most grateful for.
Applying
If the program sounds like something you would want, the first thing to check is whether your university is a partner — the official website lists this, and a quick search will get you there.
Beyond that, the questions I was asked most often are below. This was accurate as of April 2024; details change, so confirm the current version on the official site.
FAQ
Is there a cafeteria, or do we need to cook?
POSTECH has a cafeteria serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner at affordable prices. If you would rather cook, Dorm 16 — where international students stay — has kitchen facilities. The weekly menu is posted on the POSTECH website.
Is the GYP fully funded?
Yes. The program covers airfare, accommodation, and a stipend. That full support is a large part of what makes it worth applying for.
What is the accommodation like?
All international students stay in Dorm 16, also called DICE (Dormitory for International Cultural Exchange), within the campus. It is close to the cafeteria and the classrooms, which helps the international students get to know each other. Rooms are double occupancy, so you have a roommate. For anything more specific, it is best to reach out to the program office.
Contact
Feel free to reach out to me on LinkedIn or via email if you have questions about the GYP program. I am happy to help.