I chose to do my research internship in Korea after having been there once for a working holiday in 2016 and then a second time on vacation in spring of 2024. This time I was going back with the idea of spending some more time there not just as a traveler but instead entering the work life.

I worked as an intern in a bioinformatics lab at Kyunghee University for five months, initially planned were just three but I extended it quickly. The experience in the lab was great. I got a warm welcome and the fully Korean team was as curious about me and my experiences at home as I was about theirs. We spoke English, but the lab members spoke Korean among themselves.

When I started my work, I began with redoing some analyses that my supervisor had already done. In the lab every new person is assigned to a PhD student to assist them with their research. This way I got familiar with the data we were working with. Later I got my own analyses to do with new tools that I had to figure out how to use first.

It did not take long, and I had done more practical work as an intern here than in the two years of studying before. And I learned a lot about the practical applications of what we learned in our classroom.

I was working with bulk RNA-seq, single cell RNA-seq, methylome and spatial transcriptomics data. The research was about the influence of fine dust pollution on pregnant women. How the gene expression in the placenta is changed and subsequently in the child as well. With a focus on the development of atopic dermatitis in the first few years of life. It was exciting to participate in real research on patient data that came from a big cohort study in Korea.

The lab I worked in consists of about ten people. Most of them do an integrated masters and PhD program, the others were undergrad students. We all worked together in one office; each member had their own cubicle. One unexpected thing for me was that we all cleaned the room together once a week. Someone sent a message in the group chat with the job everyone was assigned, I mostly got the vacuum cleaner. During our lunch break I got to experience all the food the restaurants surrounding the university have to offer. And that was also where most of the socializing with the team happened.

Outside of work I went on some trips in and out Korea. I spent a few days on the east coast in Yangyang to learn surfing. Later I went to Beijing for a short trip visiting the great wall of China, the Forbidden City and the Temple of Heaven. In January I spent a very cold and windy weekend in Busan, the second biggest city in Korea. Right after that I went on a trip to Hongkong and Shenzhen and got a sunburn in 20-degree weather.

Tips for other Interns

Preparation

My preparation for this internship started two days after I came back from a trip to Korea. Still jetlagged but fully motivated to get back to this place, I made such great friends and memories. The first step was the scholarship. I had first thought of the Promos program but then found out about the ERASMUS+ Internship.

Visa

Researching the different visa types on the official website and reddit and by visiting the Korean visa application center was confusing. Different official sources had different or incomplete information. In the end, after many emails between me, the University in Korea, the immigration center in Korea and in Berlin it was agreed that in my case the Tourism visa was the best way to go. I just had to leave the country before the 90-day visa was over.

Finding an internship position

Finding a lab that accepted me to do my internship took about 20 emails. I started my search on google looking for bioinformatics labs in Korea, then I went through university websites. Some had nice lists of all labs per department including links and email addresses, others were less helpful. When I found a lab that fit my interests I sent an email to the PI asking if they would have me as an Intern, including my transcript of records and CV. The total number of replies I got was three and one of them was inviting me to come work with them. I applied for three months and extended for two more.

Housing

Finding a place to stay was surprisingly easy. As shared flats are not a big thing in Korea, I was looking for a room by myself in a Goshiwon, something similar to a student dorm but not restricted to students. There are websites like goshipages to find a place. I used that and just Naver maps, the Korean alternative to google. I visited the lab a few weeks before I started there and spontaneously called some of the places, I had found on goshipages and did two viewings right away. I decided to take one of the rooms later that day.

Insurance

My first thought was to take the insurance offered by the DAAD but with my travel plans before and after the internship it was not possible as they only offered to cover a total of one month prior and after the internship. I ended up choosing an offer from Care Concept.

Phone and Internet

I ordered a SIM card from Chingu Mobile while I was still at home in Berlin. It had unlimited data and cost around 20€ per month. This covered my internet usage at home and outside and could be extended monthly. I can only recommend it.

Banking and money management

I did not get a bank account in Korea and had no problems without it. Everything was fine using credit cards or cash.