"Preparing a Korean Studies Thesis While Working Part-Time at a Samcheong-dong Korean Restaurant" [Korean Era②]

Sejong Institute Outstanding Student Ports Karola
Studied Korean and Joined Samsung SDI Hungary Corporation
Endured Korean Life for Vivid Learning
"I Hope Korean Becomes a Part of My Life"

Portz Karola works at Samsung SDI's Hungary branch. After completing an internship in the HR Education Team in 2022, she was hired as a full-time employee in the HR Planning Team last August. There are about eighty Koreans assigned to the department. The team leader, group leader, and part leader are all Korean. Smooth communication in Korean is essential.

Porsche Karola was hired as a full-time employee in the HR Planning Team at Samsung SDI Hungary Corporation last August.
[Photo by Sejong Institute Foundation]

"I am now in my third month, so there is a lot I don't know. I want to become a colleague who is needed by the team, so I diligently take notes on every task. I enthusiastically learn the work by organizing vocabulary lists in Korean and Hungarian in my notebook. The tasks mainly involve HR-related duties such as managing the attendance system, promotions, and dismissals. Communication in Korean as well as knowledge related to Korea are required."

She has been studying Korean since 2018. It started with K-pop. She became curious about the meanings of Korean words she got familiar with by listening to songs. She gradually learned them one by one and eventually taught herself.

"As I learned words one by one, I fell in love with the Korean language. I studied alone using the popular language learning app Duolingo and online resources. In 2019, I visited Korea alone and worked at a guesthouse for a month and a half. I also visited various tourist spots in Seoul and took Korean language classes offered at an affordable price by Sookmyung Women's University. Surprisingly, the more I learned and experienced, the greater my interest in Korean became. After returning to Hungary, I registered at the Budapest Korean Cultural Center Sejong Institute, which a friend introduced to me, and started studying seriously."

Pots Karola said, "The time spent at the Budapest Sejong Institute was meaningful."
[Photo by Sejong Institute Foundation]

Karola studied law at P?zm?ny P?ter Catholic University in Hungary. Wanting to learn Korean, she enrolled in E?tv?s Lor?nd University (ELTE) in 2020 and majored in Korean Studies. The following year, the Budapest Sejong Institute was established on campus. Without hesitation, she applied for intermediate Korean classes.

"I was able to learn Korean words, grammar, and expressions I didn't know before, as well as Korean culture. My speaking and writing skills improved significantly. This was possible thanks to passionate teachers. It was definitely different from practicing Korean writing alone. When I submitted writing assignments, they corrected every mistake. They kindly explained how and in what situations to use difficult words or expressions from the Sejong Korean textbooks. Thanks to this, I gained confidence even in speaking, which was the most difficult for me."

Her rapidly improving Korean skills led to her joining Samsung SDI's Hungary branch. With the help of a Korean Studies professor in 2022, she got a glimpse inside the company and applied for an internship, which she passed. Until January last year, she worked as an intern in the HR Education Team, handling HR-related tasks such as recruiting Korean interns and translating into Hungarian.

Porsche Karola was able to make many friends at the Budapest Sejong Institute.
[Photo by Sejong Institute Foundation]

While preparing to become a full-time employee, Karola did not neglect her Korean studies. Last year, to have a vivid learning experience, she visited Korea again. In the first half of the year, she studied as an exchange student at the University of Seoul. In the second half, she worked part-time at a Korean restaurant called 'Danpungnamujip' in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, while preparing her graduation thesis in Korean Studies. She said, "Living in Korea made me think it would be great if Korean became a part of my life."

"I stayed in Seoul for quite a long time. Now, when I think of Korea, it feels like a second hometown. Looking back, I think that was the reason I wanted to work at a Korean company. Actually, working with many Koreans helps ease my homesickness a bit. I plan to work skillfully at my job and strive to speak Korean better. My dream is to visit Korea again with fluent Korean skills. I want to receive a scholarship from a Korean university to pursue a master's degree or work in Korea."