2025 Study Abroad Program in Seoul, South Korea

Department of Urban Planning and Environmental Policy (UPEP) at Texas Southern University is proud to announce its Summer 2025 Study Abroad program titled “Sustainable Urbanism in Seoul” Scheduled for June 6–18, 2025, this faculty-led program by Dr. Bumseok Chun, Faculty Associate in the Bullard Center, offers UPEP graduate students a transformative experience to explore innovative urban planning, green infrastructure, and environmental equity in one of the world’s most dynamic cities—Seoul, South Korea.

With Seoul as a living laboratory, students will engage in field visits, expert lectures, and hands-on workshops, gaining firsthand insight into how a hyper-dense, high-tech metropolis integrates sustainability and resilience. Key program highlights include:

• A tour of Seoul’s World Cup Park, a successful ecological restoration project transformed from a landfill
• A visit to Guryong Village, one of Seoul’s last informal settlements, to examine urban poverty, redevelopment tensions, and housing equity
• A special visit to the National Assembly of South Korea, where students will explore the country’s legislative process on urban and environmental policies
• On-site sessions at Seoul’s Smart City Control Center (TOPIS) and meetings with local planners and scholars
• Cultural immersion experiences at traditional markets, royal palaces, the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), and Lotte World Tower, South Korea’s tallest skyscraper, to study high-density urban development and vertical land use strategies
• Academic collaboration with faculty and students from Kyung Hee University

“Since Seoul provides a compelling model for how cities can blend tradition, innovation, and social equity, this program is designed to prepare students to think globally and act locally.” said Dr. Bumseok Chun, program coordinator and Acting Chair of the UPEP Department.

The course, UPEP 790: Special Topics in Urban Planning & Environmental Policy, is a 3-credit graduate course open to UPEP students with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Upon returning, students will present their research and experience using ArcGIS StoryMaps, contributing to the department’s growing global learning initiatives.

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