'We know our struggles better than Koreans': Meet the international students creating their own social clubs

International students at Korea University have created their own clubs to address challenges and build a sense of community.

KU TALK members pose for a photo at their "Golden Ticket to the Future" event held during this spring semester. [KU TALK]

Integrating into Korean university life is one of the biggest challenges for international students, prompting them to create their own clubs and organizations to build a sense of community far from home.

Language barriers, cultural differences and a general lack of information can make foreign students in Korea feel exactly that: foreign.

At Korea University, students have worked to develop more clubs that embrace diversity and foster cross-cultural relationships.

K-campus, a brand run by the Korea JoongAng Daily, conducted interviews with leaders of Korea University’s clubs and student organizations founded by international students.

Anna Nasiri is the president of KU TALK, an English-language public speaking club. Raya serves as the PR and HR manager of KU ON AIR (KOA), the university’s first English-language broadcasting station. Suha Mulla is the president and editor-in-chief of Just KUZ (Korea University’s zine). Sabina Akperova is the founder and president of KU’s Foreign Student Union (KU FSU), the university’s first student union for international students.

Members of KU ON AIR pose for a photo at a club outing. [KOA]

Q. Can you please provide a brief introduction to your club?

A. Nasiri: KU TALK is a dynamic and inclusive club at Korea University focused on enhancing essential soft skills such as public speaking, communication and confidence.

By fostering teamwork, cultural exchange and personal growth, KU TALK empowers students to develop the skills needed to succeed both academically and professionally.

Raya: KOA is Korea University's first English-speaking broadcasting station, established to assist international students and bridge the gap between Korean and international students. Founded to provide international students with access to on-campus news and a platform to voice their thoughts, KOA fosters a global community.

Together, we produce engaging and educational content on our official YouTube and Instagram channels. What sets KU ON AIR apart is its commitment to breaking down language barriers and promoting a truly globalized campus environment, in line with Korea University's mission.

Issue 29 of Just KUZ’s zine [JUST KUZ]

Mulla:Just KUZ is a student-led club open to all Korea University students who enjoy creative writing. We self-publish weekly zines, which are short-form literary magazines. Our creative content ranges from creative writing to comics, puzzles and games. There are four teams at Just KUZ, including the writing team, editorial team, design team and promotions team, which collectively work on the production of the zine and allow members to take on different roles in the creative process.

Akperova: KU FSU was created with the aim of building a community and becoming a representative body for international full-time students at Korea University. We are quite a young organization that was founded in 2023 but made a new start in 2024, and we are working on various projects directed at the needs of foreign students.

What motivated you to create your club, and what makes it unique?

A. Nasiri: The motivation behind creating KU TALK stemmed from the lack of opportunities for international students to develop themselves beyond social interactions. Many existing clubs allow students to hang out but don't provide the chance to gain something genuinely useful. We wanted to fill this gap by offering a platform where students can improve themselves while enjoying the camaraderie of a diverse group.

What sets KU TALK apart is our passionate and dedicated team, comprising both international and Korean students, who work closely together toward common goals.

Our club hosts events where members can share ideas, deliver speeches and engage with audiences, providing them with invaluable experience in public speaking and communication.

Raya:The idea for KU ON AIR emerged from a need identified by our president, Elina, a Media and Communications major. She noticed that existing KU broadcasting channels only catered to Korean speakers, leaving international students without easy access to crucial campus information.

KU ON AIR is unique in its dual mission: first, to support international students by providing key KU information in English, such as tips for first year students on course registration and club activities. Second, to create culturally insightful content that highlights the diverse experiences within KU’s community. For example, our Instagram series "Ramadan Kareem" explored how the Muslim community at KU accessed a prayer room and celebrated Ramadan in Korea.

Mulla: The source of inspiration for Just KUZ was the same as a lot of things in my life — I saw something cool online and wanted to replicate it with my friends. I’ve heard of zines in the past and thought they looked unique, so I was interested in creating something similar.

Just KUZ specifically was an answer to the lack of access to creative, low-barrier, English-language extracurriculars at KU and I think that this is still its main draw. Considering how difficult it is to learn a foreign language fluently, I was very motivated to make a space for international students to express their creativity despite language barriers.

Akperova: My motivation was the lack of opportunities for foreign full-time students without Korean proficiency to apply their skills, knowledge and ideas at Korea University while studying here for four years. I am an active person [...] so coming here, I was looking forward to finding projects to contribute to besides studying. Unfortunately, everything required high Korean language proficiency. I was very frustrated and thought that if there were no opportunities, I would have to create them.

[KU FSU] is the first organization at Korea University created by foreign students to represent, be the voice of, provide information, opportunities and support to international students by international students.

KU FSU hosts a welcome party for international students in June. [KU FSU]

Do you believe it's important to have more international student-led clubs at Korea University?

A. Nasiri:Absolutely, I firmly believe that it's crucial for international students to have more roles in clubs, including leadership positions. This involvement not only enriches university life but also fosters a sense of belonging and community. When international students lead clubs, they contribute diverse perspectives and create opportunities for cross-cultural interactions, making the university a more inclusive place. Instead of waiting for opportunities to come our way, we should actively create them. By doing so, international students can integrate more deeply into the university's fabric, transforming from visitors into integral members of the community.

Raya: Yes, definitely! While many clubs at Korea University are open to all students, language barriers can make it difficult for international students to join and participate fully. As the number of international students at KU continues to grow, it's crucial to have clubs where they can find community and support, especially when they first arrive or feel overwhelmed.

Mulla:Yes, I believe that Korea University must have more international student-led clubs. While KU boasts a variety of student clubs that include international members, it is difficult to actively participate and integrate with the members of the club effectively without sufficient knowledge of the Korean language and culture. This barrier limits the ability of international students to fully engage and benefit from these clubs. An increase in the number of international student-led clubs would address these issues by providing spaces where students can communicate freely and share experiences in a common language without being afraid of stepping over cultural boundaries.

Akperova:I think it is very important to have more international student-led clubs and organizations at Korea University. Firstly, not all existing clubs are inclusive. Even if they accept foreigners, they have limitations — either the internal culture treats us as outsiders, or internal processes and systems are mostly oriented toward Korean students while foreign students' needs might be different or require some adjustments.

Foreigners know the struggles and needs of foreigners in Korea better than Koreans, including those who lived abroad. If all organizations are created for us and not by us — it will feel like we are customers or guests who only receive but don't have an opportunity to contribute, to apply their leadership and develop their skills.

There are not that many opportunities for us, and not all foreign students have enough Korean proficiency to access the existing opportunities, but we surely do have something special we could contribute and share here. If Korean universities want to become more global and attract more long-term foreign students, they need to treat us like their own, not like temporary visitors and tourists.

What message would you like to share with students who are interested in joining your club?

A. Nasiri: If you're looking for a fun, friendly and learning-oriented environment, KU TALK is the place for you! Here, you'll have the chance to improve your soft skills, enhance your public speaking abilities and connect with people from various backgrounds. Our club is all about growth, support and cultural exchange. We look forward to seeing you join us and becoming a part of our dynamic community.

Raya:If you want your voice heard and are eager to explore the world of content creation, KU ON AIR is the place for you. Our motto, "Inhale innovation, exhale expression," reflects our commitment to fostering creativity and sharing ideas.

Regardless of your major, nationality or age, if you’re enthusiastic about learning and contributing, we would love to welcome you to KU ON AIR.

Mulla:If you're thinking about joining Just KUZ, embrace the opportunity to explore new creative avenues without hesitation. We welcome members of all skill levels, so there's no need to worry if you're not already proficient in the various tasks we undertake. What matters most is your enthusiasm and willingness to experiment. With a bit of passion and curiosity, you can dive into your creative ideas and help bring them to life.

Akperova: KU FSU's mission is very important, and its existence is very meaningful not only for current foreign students but also for future students and the university itself. We believe inclusion is a two-way process: the university makes efforts to become more inclusive, but also the foreign students do not just wait for everything to be done for us.

I think [KU FSU] is the true spirit of Korea University — the leaders with the determination to make positive changes and contribute to society. If you are like this, we will be happy to meet you!

BY SASHA ELLE LORENZ [elle.lorenz@joongang.co.kr]