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South Korea and Japan are currently ranked as one of the world’s most innovative countries. This course is designed to raise awareness of the culture of Creativity and Innovation in the East Asian countries. Special attention is placed on what makes South Korea and Japan so innovative – are they a highly creative people or is it rooted in a hardworking Asian culture?

We look at the role of national culture in Korea’s best known creative industries, namely electronics and Kpop, to more deeply understand the local and global business contexts that have made companies like Samsung, Hyundai, MBC, some of the most innovative in the world.

It is beneficial to also visit Japan, as the two countries provide distinct yet complementary cultural and technological perspectives. Japan, renowned for its long-standing tradition of integrating cultural heritage with cutting-edge innovation, offers a unique environment where students can examine the influence of historical traditions on contemporary creativity. Students can explore the concept of "incremental innovation," a core principle of the Japanese manufacturing system known as Kaizen.

A visit to both nations enhances students’ understanding of global perspectives, fostering critical and creative thinking within an interconnected world. At the end of this course, students will be able to:

1. Develop communication skills in the Korean and Japanese languages, enabling them to navigate daily interactions, seek assistance, and briefly engage with locals through an immersive experience.

2. Broaden their understanding of the social, cultural, political, economic, and managerial differences between the US, Korea, Japan and other East Asian countries such as China through an immersion experience.

3. Understand the concepts of creativity and innovation, and their relations with the cultural contexts of South Korea, Japan, China and the US.

4. And explore how the different yet complementary culture and history from South Korea and Japan fosters creation and innovation.

• December: Pre-departure meeting (Zoom)
  Class logistics. Introduction: Korean Language
• Saturday, Jan. 3: Depart from SFO

Week 1

• Sunday, Jan. 4: Arrive in ICN, Bus to Daejeon
• Monday, Jan. 5: Daejeon
  Solbridge International School of Business: Program Orientation, SolBridge Campus Tour, Lectures: Korean Language & Culture Class, Chaebols & Its Impact to Korea’s Economic Growth
• Tuesday, Jan. 6: Daejeon
  SolBridge lecture: Debate & Negotiation Skills. 
  Cultural site visit: Korean Culture (Hyo Institute), Tea ceremony and Hanbok Class.
• Wednesday, Jan. 7: Daejeon
  SolBridge lecture: Communicating Across Cultures.
  Company visit: Korea Ginseng Corporation
• Thursday, Jan. 8: Daejeon
  SolBridge lecture: Korea’s Entrepreneurship & Startup Ecosystem.
  Company visit: Korail or TBD.
• Friday, Jan. 9: Daejeon
  SolBridge: Student Case Presentation, Closing Program & Awarding of Certificates
• Saturday, Jan. 10: Depart from Daejeon, Arrive in Busan
• Sunday, Jan. 11: Busan
  Company visit: Samjin Eomuk (the world’s largest fish cake manufactory)

Week 2

• Monday, Jan. 12: Depart from Busan, Arrive in Seoul
  Company visit: Samsung Innovation Museum (or Kia Automobile Manufactory)
• Tuesday, Jan. 13: Seoul
  Company visit: Ahn Lab Company Visit (#1 Cybersecurity Company in Korea)
  Cultural site visit: COEX Mall
• Wednesday, Jan. 14: Seoul
  Company visit: MBC Dream Center (one of the leading South Korean television and radio broadcasters).
  Cultural site visits: Nanta Show, Myeongdong Market
• Thursday, Jan. 15: Seoul
  Cultural site visit: Gyeongbok Palace
• Friday, Jan. 16: Depart from Seoul, Arrive in Kyoto
  Cultural site visits: Yasaka Shrine & Gion Area
• Saturday, Jan. 17: Kyoto
  Company Visit: Shimadzu CorporationMuseum
  Cultural site visit: Kiyomizu-dera Temple
• Sunday, Jan. 18: Kyoto
  Cultural site visits: Fushimi Inari, Ginaku-ji

Week 3

• Monday, Jan. 19: Depart from Kyoto, Arrive in Tokyo
  Cultural site visit: Sensoji
• Tuesday, Jan. 20: Tokyo
  Company visit: Nippon Steel Trading Corporation
  Cultural site visit: Tokyo Tower
• Wednesday, Jan. 21: Depart from NRT (afternoon)
  Free day
• Thursday, Jan. 22: Arrive at SFO

Course Fee: TBD
Learn about the Jan Term Travel Scholarship for additional funding.

This fee includes:
Airfare, Local Transportation, Lodging, Meals, Excursions (e.g., museums, tours, etc.), Gratuity, Travel Insurance ($35/student - international classes only), Miscellaneous, Solbridge School of Business lectures, training certificates, company visits, etc.

Estimated cost outside of course fee: 
Meals/snack on your own: $20x19 days=$380
Visa fees $0 for US citizens and $40 for most other countries. 
Souvenirs $100.