I did my SCOPE exchange program at the Soon Chun Hyang University Hospital in Cheonan, South Korea this September. I was very lucky to be placed under 2 different departments during my practice.

It was a very pleasant and unforgettable experience. There were in total 5 exchange students and each of us were paired with 2 Korean students (they call themselves the CPs aka” contact persons”). My CPs contacted me a month before and made sure I know how to safely and easily arrive the city where I should be attending the practice. They even came pick me up when I arrived the bus stop and brought me to the dorm. My CPs are super kind and lovely. They treated me with traditional Korean fried chicken and gifted me a bunch of cute souvenirs the day I arrived.

According to them, we are their first ever SCOPE incoming students! We were treated very well by all their doctors, students and staff.

 I did 2 weeks of my practice in the plastic surgery department and it was one of my best memories. I had chances to observe a lot of surgeries that I have never seen before and gotten the chance to assist and practice my suturing technique in one of the flap surgery. All the doctors are super nice and willing to teach. We were lucky that during the period of my surgery practice, students from Soon Chun Hyang university are also doing their “poly clinic “rotation so I had the chance to get to know the medical educational system in Korea. I met a lot of wonderful and talented medical students and hopefully I could keep in touch with them and have further discussion with them in the future.

 I spent another 2 weeks in general surgery department. We were again assigned to a Korean student who is doing their rotation in general surgery and was told to follow their schedule. It was very nice that I get to experience what and how other medical students do or learn during their clinical practice in another country.

 What is worth mentioning is that there is this tradition in Korea that people from the workplace gather during the week for some good food and enjoying some good time together. We were treated by the chief professor with all the resident doctors and medical students from that department to great Korean restaurant every week.

  During the weekend, our CPs usually arrange social program for us to attend. We also gather for dinner every week. One of my favorite program is attending the KBO baseball game in another city. I have never watched a baseball game before, so it was exciting for me. We also attend their university festival and was able to see performance from famous K-POP groups!

Overall, it was an amazing experience and I wish I had more chance to do this program again. Four weeks seemed to pass in a snap, but I really learned so much in this period of time. I definitely recommend this program to those who want to experience a new culture and in the same time want to improve their clinical skills.