Thinking about a trip to South Korea from Lancaster, initially, I saw it as exciting to discover something new. However, excitement is not all that is needed when talking about such an important thing like international travel. For an economics student, any journey should be accompanied by some considerations, especially considering the environmental aspect.
This month spent at the Sogang University will not be only a summer study trip. It will be the opportunity to show that it is possible to combine education with environmental consciousness. Instead of spending one month traveling across South Korea, I will have an opportunity to experience its sustainable urbanism. Seoul is known for its perfect public transport system and its innovative approach to developing the city. By moving across this city with the help of subways and buses instead of private vehicles, I will be doing my bit to support SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities.
There are many other ways to show your environmental consciousness through small things. I would try to travel lighter to reduce the environmental impact caused by planes, bring reusable bottles and shopping bags, avoid plastic whenever it is possible, and be responsible in my consumption of goods and services. This way, I will practice SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production every day of my stay.
As a student of international business, I will also have a chance to explore the practices and approaches of South Korean firms and businesses and learn how they try to become competitive, innovative, and responsible towards the environment at the same time. Such observations will be useful for me since they are directly related to SDG 8 and SDG 13: Economic growth and climate action.
However, what is even more important for me than anything else, is that this trip will change me. Being able to observe other societies and cultures, and learning about the economic reality of another country, will broaden my vision. Traveling across the world brings a person many benefits, but if you do it responsibly and sustainably, your vision will not become any narrower.
