Why 23 Dongnae High School Students Traveled to Osaka... Alumni Association and Scholarship Foundations Support International Career Exploration

Why did 23 first-year students from Dongnae High School travel to Osaka?

Kang Byungryeong, director of Gwangdo Korean Medicine Clinic and chairman of both the Mangwol Scholarship Foundation and the Inbong Scholarship Foundation, generously supported his juniors. As an alumnus of Dongnae High School, Dr. Kang, together with the Dongnae High School Alumni Association, enabled the students to participate in an experiential learning program in Osaka, Japan, to broaden their international perspective and career horizons.

The Mangwol and Inbong Scholarship Foundations of the Alumni Association organized the experiential learning program from July 28 for three days and two nights, with 23 first-year students and 4 supervising teachers participating. All necessary expenses were provided as scholarships.

This program was more than a simple overseas field trip. The students designed their own itineraries and destinations through prior research and group planning, and carried out the activities themselves. It became a self-directed career exploration trip.

Students from Dongnae High School experiencing a career exploration tour in Osaka, Japan.

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On the first day, they visited Doshisha University in Kyoto. Guided by a local guide, they toured the campus and experienced the educational environment and learning atmosphere of a Japanese university. During transit, teachers provided explanations about the history of Kyoto and Japanese history for further learning.

On the second day, they freely toured the Yumeshima area, where the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo will be held. Students independently selected exhibition halls of interest in advance and even made their own reservations for entry as teams. On site, they freely observed the exhibition layouts and spatial designs in line with the Expo's themes.

That afternoon, they visited a large retail store in downtown Osaka to experience Japanese consumer culture and daily life. The students directly experienced public etiquette and cultural differences.

On the third day, the itinerary included a tour of Osaka Castle, a visit to Osaka University, an exploration of Expo '70 Commemorative Park, and a shopping experience at LaLaport EXPOCITY. Through activities spanning educational institutions, historical and cultural heritage sites, public art, and large commercial spaces, the students broadened their interest in various professions and strengthened their ability to explore future careers.

An official from the Alumni Association stated, "This activity was a meaningful project in which the Alumni Association jointly realized Dongnae High School's educational philosophy," and added, "We will continue to prepare practical scholarship programs that help our juniors see a wider world and design their own career paths."

Choi Siwhan, a first-year student who participated in the program, shared, "What I remember most is the process of selecting the Expo exhibition halls with my teammates and preparing the entry reservations ourselves. For the first time, I was able to seriously consider my future career, which had previously felt vague, and I found that learning outside of school was much more fun and meaningful than I expected."

The Dongnae High School Alumni Association emphasized, "We will continue to expand domestic and international experiential programs focused on academic and career exploration, and steadily develop a scholarship model in which school education and the local community work together."

Students from Dongnae High School experiencing a career exploration tour in Osaka, Japan.

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