Brianna Welch

I am from northern Georgia and graduated from UNG in 2021, summa cum laude, with a degree in East Asian Studies concentrating on Korea. I was already interested in languages and history, and after hearing stories about Korea from both my grandfathers — one of whom worked there as a translator right after the Korean War, the other was stationed in South Korea during its democratic uprising — I decided to take Korean language courses.  Doing so, I developed an even greater interest in Korean history. By the time I did my study abroad at Yonsei University, I made sure to visit every historical palace, museum, and landmark I could find. 

After graduating, I decided to continue my education at Korea University in Seoul. I have been living in Seoul for one year and a half now, working on my master’s degree in Korean Studies. As I will be graduating soon, I am hoping to start an internship and gain some work experience. I am considering to pursue a Ph.D. in the future. I am convinced that my current success is thanks to my professors at UNG, who gave me a solid foundation in my field of interest. What I learned in their courses motivated me to pursue my masters, begin writing my thesis, and achieve level 5 in the TOPIK all within the last few years. Plans and interests can change over time, but new opportunities can arise just as fast if you work diligently. I hope you all can achieve your goals and enjoy visiting the country you are interested in!