In South Korea, universities are stepping up their game by bridging the gap between classroom learning and real-world experience. Two recent programs—one focused on emergency response in the mountains, the other on food entrepreneurship in the heart of Seoul—are giving students hands-on opportunities to apply their studies, serve their communities, and sharpen their professional skills.
At Kyungil University, the Department of Emergency Medical Services has teamed up with the western office of Palgongsan National Park to launch the 2026 Palgongsan West SAFETY Campus. This ambitious initiative, which kicked off its first activities on April 11, 2026, aims to run through October, blending education, public service, and practical training in a stunning natural setting.
Each session of the SAFETY Campus involves about 20 students, who roll up their sleeves to teach park visitors crucial life-saving skills. According to Kyungil University, the students provide instruction on cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and the use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs)—vital knowledge for anyone who might encounter a medical emergency on the hiking trails. But that’s not all: participants also lead safety inspections along the park’s paths, organize seasonal hiking safety campaigns, and run interactive booths where visitors can measure their blood pressure, pulse, and blood oxygen saturation. These activities are designed to encourage visitor participation and raise awareness about staying safe outdoors.
The program isn’t just about lectures or pamphlets. It’s about rolling up one’s sleeves and getting involved. Students engage the public with disaster safety experience booths and promote accident prevention through hands-on demonstrations. The overarching goal, according to university officials, is to boost both prevention and initial response capabilities for a range of emergencies in the national park—everything from slips and falls to exhaustion or sudden cardiac arrest.
Professor Lee Seul-bi, who oversees the program, explained the dual benefit: "This is a program where students can apply their specialized knowledge in real-world settings and develop practical response skills." She emphasized that the SAFETY Campus goes beyond simple awareness campaigns. By giving students a chance to face real situations, it helps them build the confidence and competence they’ll need as future emergency medical professionals. Lee added, "We will continue to expand educational and volunteer activities in connection with the local community."
For the students, the experience is personal as well as professional. Jang Sun-ho, a third-year student and member of the university’s safety response club, said, "Through our safety response club activities, I want to enhance the community’s awareness of safety and contribute to improving emergency response capabilities." He added, "I plan to continue these activities so I can gain experience that will be helpful in real-life situations."
The SAFETY Campus is a response to the real dangers that can arise in national parks, where a day’s hike can quickly turn into a crisis if someone falls, gets dehydrated, or suffers from heart trouble. By offering hands-on emergency training and health checks right on the trails, Kyungil University hopes not only to prevent accidents but also to empower both students and the public to act swiftly and effectively if trouble strikes. The university sees this as a win-win: visitors gain life-saving knowledge, and students hone their expertise in a setting that’s as unpredictable as it is beautiful.
Meanwhile, in the bustling city of Seoul, Sejong Cyber University’s Department of Food Service Entrepreneurship and Franchise is cooking up its own flavor of experiential education. On April 9, 2026, the department held a unique field trip: students and alumni visited Seoul Saengmakgogi, a restaurant on Hakdong-ro run by current student Choi Ji-min. The event, organized in collaboration with the Sejong Startup Research Association, drew about 30 participants eager to learn about the realities of running a food business.
Seoul Saengmakgogi stands out for its commitment to freshness—menus feature meat slaughtered the same day, and the restaurant is known for its distinctive pairing of pork belly and squid. Choi Ji-min isn’t new to the game. After enrolling in the department, Choi launched a lamb specialty restaurant called Yangsulrang, guided by the entrepreneurial consulting of Professor Eo Yoon-seon. With the success of Yangsulrang under his belt, Choi expanded his business portfolio by opening Seoul Saengmakgogi, demonstrating both ambition and adaptability in the competitive world of food service.
The field trip wasn’t just a social call. Attendees, including both current students and alumni, took part in a lively Q&A session where Choi shared his journey—warts and all. According to Sejong Cyber University, participants got a candid look at the preparation, challenges, and lessons learned from starting and running a restaurant. The event offered practical insights into overcoming obstacles and managing the day-to-day realities of entrepreneurship.
Professor Eo Yoon-seon, head of the Department of Food Service Entrepreneurship and Franchise, stressed the importance of preparation and learning from others. "There are many ways to succeed in entrepreneurship, but thorough learning and preparation in advance are crucial," Eo said. "Minimizing risks through the experiences of experts and practitioners is the shortcut to success in entrepreneurship." The department, she added, remains committed to supporting students through a mix of online learning, practical programs, and industry-focused curricula.
Sejong Cyber University is already looking ahead. The department will start accepting applications for new and transfer students for the fall 2026 semester on June 1. Anyone with a high school diploma or higher is eligible to apply, reflecting the university’s open-door approach to nurturing the next generation of food industry professionals.
Both Kyungil University’s SAFETY Campus and Sejong Cyber University’s field-based entrepreneurship program reflect a growing trend in Korean higher education: learning by doing. Whether it’s teaching CPR on a mountain trail or sharing the secrets of restaurant management, these initiatives are helping students turn theory into practice. They’re also strengthening ties between universities and their communities, as students step out of lecture halls and into roles as public educators, business leaders, and problem-solvers.
In a world where employers increasingly value real-world experience, these programs offer a blueprint for how higher education can keep pace. They also serve as a reminder that sometimes, the best lessons happen far from the classroom—whether among the pine trees of Palgongsan or over a sizzling plate of pork and squid in Seoul.