Korean Language Immersion in Seoul

Rustic Pathways maintains a median of one staff member per 4.37 students (4.37:1), with no program exceeding 7 students per staff member (7:1). This program runs with two Program Leaders for up to six students.

New Program Leaders go through a four-month selection process, and every Program Leader holds current CPR and First Aid certification.

Seoul is 13 hours ahead of New York in summer.

• After the final scheduled activity of the day, students have their phones.
• Routine help: call +1 440-975-9691, Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET.
• Emergencies: use the 24/7 number in your pre-departure materials.

If a student has an urgent, medical, or significant personal need during activities, a Program Leader helps them contact home.

Most students join on their own, and some join with friends or siblings. Roommate requests are accepted during enrollment for students coming together. Program Leaders run icebreakers on day one, and friendships form quickly.

Cancellations within 24 hours of enrollment receive a refund of all amounts paid to Rustic Pathways.

Cancellations before midnight ET on March 31, 2027, receive a full refund of the program tuition. The enrollment fee and any airfare already booked become non-refundable.

For cancellations after March 31, 2027, see the enrollment terms.

If your family experiences a serious, documented emergency, contact us. We review these situations on a case-by-case basis.

U.S. students can join a chaperoned group flight from Los Angeles (LAX) to Seoul Incheon (ICN) with a Rustic Pathways chaperone. Families can also book their own flights into and out of Incheon, including students traveling from outside the United States.

Program Leaders meet students who fly on their own at Incheon. Flights, including the group flight, are not included in tuition.

Flying independently? See the arrival and departure dates below.

Whichever option you choose, Rustic Pathways staff meet every student at Seoul airport on the arrival date and see them off on the departure date.

Option 1: the chaperoned group flight

Cost: Chaperoned group flight fee, plus airfare.

• A Rustic Pathways chaperone meets students at Los Angeles (LAX) and flies with the group to Seoul (ICN), and home from Seoul (ICN) to Los Angeles (LAX) on the departure date.
• Getting to and from Los Angeles (LAX): Rustic Pathways can book the connecting flights between your home airport and Los Angeles (LAX), or your family can. Students fly that leg on their own, with an airline unaccompanied-minor service if the airline requires one.
• Every student on the group flight pays the chaperoned group flight fee, even if your family books the connecting flights.

Option 2: independent flights with support

Cost: Flight Support Fee, plus airfare.

• You choose the flights and Rustic Pathways books them, into and out of Seoul (ICN).
• Students fly on their own, and you get 24/7 travel support if plans change.

Option 3: book your own flights

Cost: No Rustic Pathways fee, just airfare (for students not on the group flight).

• Your family books and manages the flights, into and out of Seoul (ICN).
• Students fly on their own. Changes and rebooking are between your family and the airline.

Arrival and departure windows

Students who are not on the group flight land within the arrival window and leave within the departure window, about four hours each. Your Personal Travel Advisor shares the exact times before you book. Flights outside the windows carry an additional fee.

Dates on this page run from the day the group flight leaves Los Angeles to the day the group leaves South Korea. The group lands in Seoul the day after it leaves the U.S.

When your student flies independently, book flights that arrive and leave on these dates. Flight times can change, so contact your Personal Travel Advisor before you book.

At Incheon International Airport (ICN). The group transfers into Seoul on arrival day and travels back to Incheon together on Day 14.

U.S. citizens and travelers from most countries don’t need a visa for South Korea, but from January 1, 2027 those 18 and older at entry do need a K-ETA (electronic travel authorization) before flying. Travelers 17 and younger at entry don’t need a K-ETA. Requirements can change, so check the official K-ETA site for the latest. Other passports may need a visa: check your nationality on Korea’s official visa portal.

The enrollment fee is a one-time fee, separate from tuition, covering enrollment, pre-departure advising, and trip planning. It begins at $100 and increases closer to the departure date.

The enrollment fee is refundable for cancellations within 24 hours.

Yes. Rustic Pathways offers a 4-Pay payment plan that splits program tuition into four payments over six weeks. This plan is only available for enrollments more than 90 days before departure and only for U.S. bank accounts.

Need-based financial aid and merit scholarships are also available. Explore scholarships and financial aid.

Medical insurance with coverage in South Korea is required. Travel insurance is strongly recommended, not required.

Neither is included in program tuition. Rustic Pathways recommends Arch RoamRight: get a quote.

$150 to $200 per week is recommended for shopping, snacks, or souvenirs. Meals, scheduled activities, and gratuities are included in program tuition. Korea is close to cashless, so a card that works abroad is more useful than cash.

Yes. Students share rooms with same-gender peers in one Seoul guest house, with both Program Leaders staying in the same building.

Personal Travel Advisors review all medical forms and plan with families to manage medication, allergies, and dietary requirements on the program.

Program Leaders are first-aid and CPR certified, and teams keep lists of medical facilities for every major program location.

Rustic Pathways Program Leaders supervise students from the moment staff meet them at Incheon International Airport until they depart for their flight home.

• A median student-to-staff ratio of 1 staff member for every 4.37 students, never exceeding 7:1.
• Program Leaders are housed on site and available overnight.
• Two-Deep Leadership: No staff member is ever alone one-on-one with a student.
• Each student has a personal check-in with a Program Leader within 24 hours of arrival.
• Families receive a Safe Arrival email within 12 hours of arrival in South Korea.

Students get some free time to shop and practice speaking Korean with locals.

Students must stay in groups of at least three, and Program Leaders set boundaries and a meeting place and time. A staff member stays at the meeting point at all times while others patrol and monitor the area.

Everything else is structured activities.

At night, students stay in their rooms with their roommates. Program Leaders are housed on site and conduct nightly room checks.

Rustic Pathways follows Trip Before Scroll: staff store phones and connected devices securely during daytime programming and hand them back after the final scheduled activity.

Students keep them overnight, subject to quiet-hours and lights-out rules. Travel-day, medical, and accessibility exceptions apply. Laptops or tablets may be allowed during language classes; enrolled families get the specific rules.

Rustic Pathways welcomes all students and works with families to provide appropriate support. Learn about Rustic Pathways’ inclusion policy.

The group is limited to 6 students, ages 14 to 18, with two Program Leaders.

The group is limited to six students because it is a language course, not a tour. Six students and two Program Leaders allow for classes taught only to Rustic Pathways students, with enough teacher attention for each student to receive adequate attention.

Yes. Non-U.S. students can join this program. International students fly to Incheon to arrive within the designated arrival window for their session.

Rustic Pathways staff meet them at the airport and ensure safe departure within the designated window at the end of the program.

Visa requirements depend on the passport, so ask an advisor.

Students receive about 40 hours of private Korean language instruction, with about four and a half hours of classes per day. Classes are exclusively for Rustic Pathways students. Complete beginners are welcome.

On class days, mornings are Korean in Hongdae and afternoons are Seoul with your Program Leaders, using what you learned. Days without classes are cultural programming across the city.

Not strenuous, but expect city walking most afternoons.

Yes. Vegetarian, vegan, pescatarian, gluten-free, dairy-free, and other diets, plus common food allergies can be accommodated. Dietary needs and allergy information are collected after enrollment and shared with meal providers and project partners in advance.

Korean cooking uses fish sauce, shrimp paste, and sesame widely, and shellfish and sesame allergies need real planning rather than ordering around.

Yes. The itinerary may change due to weather, safety concerns, transportation issues, or site availability. Program Leaders may adjust activities and schedules to keep students safe and ensure a positive program experience.