Travel reveals character. For me, sustainable travel means refusing to treat a host city as a temporary backdrop for my convenience. As a Yonsei University student preparing for an exchange at the London School of Economics, I want my time abroad to show manners toward the local community that I will enter.
As a Political science and international relations student, I view sustainability as an ethical standard. We all benefit from resources, infrastructure, and sacrifices we did not create ourselves. Because so much in life is shaped by luck, those of us who can study abroad should be especially careful not to consume carelessly and leave the cost to future generations, overburdened workers, or the communities that host us.
A few months ago at Banpo Hangang Park, I saw tourists throw garbage along the riverside. I wondered whether they would behave the same way in their own neighborhoods. This reminded me that people often act irresponsibly in places they stay temporarily. But I do not want to become that kind of traveler.
A project I worked on in my marketing class last year made that belief more concrete. I led a team working with a company that designs mobility aids for disabled and elderly pets. As we developed the strategy, I came to see that sustainability is rejecting a disposable mindset toward vulnerable beings and the communities around us. We linked our work to SDG 11 and SDG 12 by arguing that a sustainable community becomes more inclusive when even disabled animals can access outdoor life, and that responsible consumption begins when people choose long-term care over convenience. I led the strategy proposal and final presentation, and our team received both an academic excellence award and recognition for twenty hours of volunteer service. I learned that responsibility means caring properly for the place and lives one is connected to, even temporarily.
In my hometown, I mostly use public transportation and receive monthly mileage refunds for doing so. I also actively use Karrot, a second-hand platform, to sell or give away items I no longer need. At LSE, I want to practice that ethic through daily choices. In a shared flat, I want to cook, reduce food waste, and make considerate use of low-cost or surplus food options. Furthermore, I will actively utilize pre-owned item sales. These choices may seem small, but they are my ways of respecting the ecosystem and resources that make a city livable for everyone.
2026 is the first year Yonsei and LSE have established an exchange partnership, and I feel a heavy responsibility as one of the first students to participate. When I return, I want to share the fact that sustainable living in London is not about self-denial. It is about recognizing a host city as a real community, respecting shared spaces, and finding a way of living that is modest, healthy, and attentive to others. If I can do that, my study abroad experience will be worthy of the opportunity I have been given.
