Pukyong National University

Pukyong National University, Hosts Pukyong International Summer School (PKNU ISS) for ‘119 Students from Nine Countries’

― Students from 19 universities to live together in campus housing for two to four weeks

― Participants to take global courses and experience Korean culture through K-pop dance, Korean cooking, marine sports, and more

Pukyong National University (President Sang-Hoon Bae) launched the 2026 PKNU International Summer School (PKNU ISS) on July 20, bringing together 119 participants: 103 international students from 19 universities across nine countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Belgium, China, and Japan, as well as 16 Pukyong National University students.

Following the opening ceremony, the program will be offered in two sessions―a four-week course from July 20 to August 14 and a two-week course from August 3 to 14―to accommodate participants’ schedules and the academic calendars of their home universities. To facilitate the international students’ arrival and adjustment to life in Korea, Pukyong National University’s Office of International Affairs is providing customized support, including pickup services at Gimhae International Airport and Busan Station, shared residence-hall accommodation with Pukyong National University students, and a buddy program.

Beginning July 21, participants will take part in a wide range of Korean cultural activities, including pottery making, K-pop dancing, Korean cooking, calligraphy, taekwondo, traditional cultural experiences, makgeolli brewing, and a temple stay.

In addition, participants will visit some of Busan’s most iconic cultural and tourist attractions, including Haeundae Blueline Park, SEA LIFE Busan Aquarium, Busan X the Sky, Songdo Marine Cable Car, and the Busan City Tour. They will also experience Busan’s maritime culture by enjoying marine sports such as rafting boats and banana boats at Gwangalli Beach, located near the university campus.

Alongside the cultural activities, students will take global courses taught in English. The four-week program offers elective courses such as Understanding International Relations, Sport Scuba Diving and the Underwater Environment, and Basic Korean, as well as the required course Global Culture II. Students in the two-week program will take Learning Korean through K-Culture and Global Culture I. Participants can earn up to four academic credits.

First launched in 2009, the PKNU International Summer School (PKNU ISS) has become one of Pukyong National University’s flagship international exchange programs, attracting students from Korea and around the world each year. The program provides international students with opportunities to experience the Korean language, Korean culture, and Busan’s unique maritime environment firsthand, while offering Pukyong National University students valuable opportunities to strengthen their global competencies through interaction with peers from diverse cultural backgrounds.

Through the program, Pukyong National University aims to help participants not only build academic knowledge in the classroom but also gain a broad understanding of Korea’s traditional and contemporary culture, as well as Busan’s maritime culture. By combining academic learning with immersive cultural experiences, the university seeks to foster mutual cultural understanding and cultivate a global perspective among all participants. <Pukyong Today>