This course is designed to raise awareness of the culture of Creativity and Innovation in South Korea and Japan. Special attention is placed on the cultural contexts and business practices in the East Asian countries. What makes Korea and Japan so innovative—are they a highly creative people or is it rooted in a hardworking culture? 

We look at the role of national culture in Korea’s best known creative industries, namely electronics, Kpop and online gaming, to more deeply understand the local and global business contexts that have made companies like Samsung, Hyundai, MBC, and BTS, some of the most innovative in the world. We will also compare and contrast Korea and other nations (Japan, China, and USA) on innovation policies, to better understand how the innovation ecosystem is created, in Korea and Japan.

• December: Pre-departure meeting (Zoom)
  Class logistics. Introduction: Korean Language
• Saturday, Jan. 3: Depart from SFO

Week 1

• Sunday, Jan. 4: Arrive in ICN, Bus to Daejeon
• Monday, Jan. 5: Daejeon
  Solbridge International School of Business: Program Orientation, SolBridge Campus Tour, Lectures: Korean Language & Culture Class, Chaebols & Its Impact to Korea’s Economic Growth
• Tuesday, Jan. 6: Daejeon
  SolBridge lecture: Debate & Negotiation Skills. 
  Cultural site visit: Korean Culture (Hyo Institute), Tea ceremony and Hanbok Class.
• Wednesday, Jan. 7: Daejeon
  SolBridge lecture: Communicating Across Cultures.
  Company visit: Korea Ginseng Corporation
• Thursday, Jan. 8: Daejeon
  SolBridge lecture: Korea’s Entrepreneurship & Startup Ecosystem.
  Company visit: Korail or TBD.
• Friday, Jan. 9: Daejeon
  SolBridge: Student Case Presentation, Closing Program & Awarding of Certificates
• Saturday, Jan. 10: Depart from Daejeon, Arrive in Busan
• Sunday, Jan. 11: Busan
  Company visit: Samjin Eomuk (the world’s largest fish cake manufactory)

Week 2

• Monday, Jan. 12: Depart from Busan, Arrive in Seoul
  Company visit: Samsung Innovation Museum (or Kia Automobile Manufactory)
• Tuesday, Jan. 13: Seoul
  Company visit: Ahn Lab Company Visit (#1 Cybersecurity Company in Korea)
  Cultural site visit: COEX Mall
• Wednesday, Jan. 14: Seoul
  Company visit: MBC Dream Center (one of the leading South Korean television and radio broadcasters).
  Cultural site visits: Nanta Show, Myeongdong Market
• Thursday, Jan. 15: Seoul
  Cultural site visit: Gyeongbok Palace
• Friday, Jan. 16: Depart from Seoul, Arrive in Kyoto
  Cultural site visits: Yasaka Shrine & Gion Area
• Saturday, Jan. 17: Kyoto
  Company Visit: Shimadzu CorporationMuseum
  Cultural site visit: Kiyomizu-dera Temple
• Sunday, Jan. 18: Kyoto
  Cultural site visits: Fushimi Inari, Ginaku-ji

Week 3

• Monday, Jan. 19: Depart from Kyoto, Arrive in Tokyo
  Cultural site visit: Sensoji
• Tuesday, Jan. 20: Tokyo
  Company visit: Nippon Steel Trading Corporation
  Cultural site visit: Tokyo Tower
• Wednesday, Jan. 21: Depart from NRT (afternoon)
  Free day
• Thursday, Jan. 22: Arrive at SFO

Course Fee: $5,250-5,650
Learn about the Jan Term Travel Scholarship for additional funding.

This fee includes:
Airfare, Local Transportation, Lodging, Meals, Excursions (e.g., museums, tours, etc.), Gratuity, Travel Insurance ($35/student - international classes only), Miscellaneous,

Estimated cost outside of course fee:
K ETA: $7; Meals/snack on your owe: $15*20 days=300; visa fees $0 for US citizens and $40 for most other countries. souvenirs $100.