The Student Affairs Division of KDIS recently hosted a lecture event to ensure secure living in Korea for its international students. This event was organized in line with the South Korean Ministry of Education's directive mandating international students' participation in education sessions about living safely in Korea. 

Titled "Basic Legal Education for the Safe Living of International Students in Korea," the event, led by Professor Hyo-Ju Lee (Mokwon University, Daejeon), addressed crucial topics essential for the well-being and legal compliance of international students residing in Korea. 

The event, held on May 29th at KDIS, comprised two comprehensive sessions. The first session focused on enhancing awareness regarding common offenses that international students may unwittingly engage in while in Korea. It also provided insights into the preventive measures that can be adopted. In addition, this session delved into the implications of unintentional illegal stays, highlighting the negative effects on the individuals, and the associated educational institutions.

The second session was “Violence Prevention Education” which was centered on the awareness and prevention of gender-based violence - a crucial subject for fostering a safe and inclusive learning environment, especially in a culturally diverse community like KDIS. 

According to Professor Lee, the course requirement on violence prevention applies to not only international but also to domestic students, aligning with the South Korean government's commitment to promoting gender equality, a key goal of the UN's SDGs.

She also expressed hope that the session would serve as a valuable resource for KDI School students, enabling them to navigate their stay in South Korea with confidence and awareness. Despite South Korea's reputation as a safe country, she emphasized the unpredictability of life and the potential hazards that may arise unexpectedly:

"South Korea is a safe country, but as we all know, nothing in life is guaranteed.” 

"We never know what we will encounter around the next corner, so it's important to be aware and careful about potential dangers and know ways to stay safe."

As KDIS welcomes students from all over the world every semester, such informative events play an important role in ensuring their positive experiences in Korea. Sharing stories from real-life cases, Professor  Kim touched on cases of voice phishing and otherscams  in Korea, for which foreigners easily fall victim to due to language barriers, cultural differences, and lack of information. 

One of the attendees at the event mentioned,“ Korea feels very safe, there are CCTVs everywhere and most importantly, nobody touches your belongings even if we leave them unattended, but that doesn’t mean crime doesn’t happen in Korea and today’s session made it clearer for me. It has encouraged me to stay aware” The recorded session is available KDI School’s e-Education platform for those unable to attend the event in person due to scheduling conflicts with classes. This ensures that all students can fulfill the mandated basic educational requirements and are well-informed.