Part 1: Stepping into the Heart of Seoul
The train slowed as it approached Seoul Central Station, one of the busiest transportation hubs in South Korea. Ji-hoon could feel the vibrations of the high-speed rail beneath his feet as it came to a gradual halt, the smooth hum of the train replaced by the mechanical hiss of the brakes. As he peered out the window, the sight before him was unlike anything he had ever seen in his small town. The platform was teeming with life, a sea of people constantly moving, as though the station itself was a living, breathing entity.
Office workers in sharp suits strode briskly past, their expressions focused, briefcases in one hand and smartphones in the other. Their pace was relentless, as if they were in a race against time. Students, some alone and others in groups, dragged oversized suitcases behind them, their animated chatter blending seamlessly into the station’s steady hum. Vendors stood by their kiosks, calling out to potential customers, selling steaming cups of coffee, neatly packed kimbap, and glossy magazines featuring the latest trends in music and fashion.
The overhead speakers crackled to life, announcing train arrivals and departures in rapid succession. Ji-hoon barely had time to absorb it all before he was swept into the crowd as passengers disembarked. The station had multiple floors, with towering glass panels allowing sunlight to filter in. Escalators carried passengers to different levels, while illuminated signs directed them towards taxis, subways, and bus stops. Everything moved like clockwork, a perfect synchronization of people and machines.
As Ji-hoon stepped off the train and onto the platform, he felt a rush of emotions. This was Seoul—the heart of South Korea, a city that never slept, a place filled with endless opportunities. He had dreamed of this moment for so long, yet now that he was here, the reality of it was overwhelming.
He adjusted the strap of his duffel bag and took a deep breath. His entire life had been spent in a quiet town, where time moved at a slower pace, where people greeted each other on the streets, and where the tallest building was the local department store. Seoul, on the other hand, was a different world entirely. The air was thick with ambition, the scent of street food mixed with car exhaust, and the distant echoes of K-pop playing from store speakers.
He took out his letter and checked the address provided by the University. All new students had been instructed to reach the university today, and Ji-hoon didn’t want to be late. He had initially planned to take the subway to get a feel for Seoul’s public transportation, but after glancing at his heavy luggage, he decided against it. Navigating the subway with so many bags would be a nightmare.
Sighing, he walked toward the taxi stand outside the station. The moment he stepped out of the glass doors, a rush of city air greeted him. The streets of Seoul stretched endlessly before him, a chaotic yet mesmerizing sight. Towering skyscrapers lined the roads, their glass exteriors reflecting the sunlight. Massive LED billboards flashed advertisements—luxury watches, upcoming K-pop concerts, new smartphone releases—each one more eye-catching than the last. Pedestrians moved in unison, filling the sidewalks, some engaged in conversations, others lost in their own world with earbuds in.
The roads were packed with cars, buses, and motorcycles, yet everything moved efficiently. Traffic lights changed in perfect synchronization, and drivers honked only when necessary. Street vendors lined the corners, selling tteokbokki, hotteok, and fish cakes, the smell of spicy and sweet treats lingering in the air.
Ji-hoon couldn’t help but stare in awe. This was Seoul. Fast, vibrant, alive.
He approached the taxi stand, where a line of sleek black taxis waited for passengers. A driver in a neatly pressed uniform motioned him forward. Ji-hoon quickly loaded his luggage into the trunk and slid into the back seat.
"Where to?" The driver asked, adjusting the rearview mirror.
Ji-hoon cleared his throat and read out the address of his university.
The driver gave a small nod and pulled into traffic, merging seamlessly with the steady flow of cars. Ji-hoon leaned back, his fingers tapping restlessly against his knee. This was it. His new life was about to begin.
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As the taxi weaved through the city, Ji-hoon was captivated by the sights outside the window. The streets of Gangnam were lined with luxury boutiques, towering office buildings, and massive electronic billboards displaying K-pop music videos and fashion campaigns. The people here dressed differently—polished, expensive. Everyone seemed to walk with purpose, as if they were on their way to something important.
Further along, the cityscape shifted. The commercial districts gave way to wider roads, cleaner sidewalks, and well-maintained parks. The buildings here weren’t just tall—they were grand. Wealth and status were woven into every detail, from the manicured gardens to the sleek architecture of the high-rise apartments. Ji-hoon had read about these elite neighborhoods before, the places where CEOs, celebrities, and chaebol heirs lived.
The taxi finally slowed as they approached the Royal University of South Korea. Ji-hoon’s eyes widened as he took in the sight before him.
The entrance to the university was nothing short of majestic. Massive iron gates stretched high, adorned with intricate golden engravings. The school’s crest—a symbol of prestige and history—was displayed proudly at the center. Flanking the gates were towering stone pillars, giving the entire entrance the appearance of a palace. Beyond the gates, he could see glimpses of pristine gardens, elegant buildings, and wide marble pathways leading deeper into the campus.
The taxi came to a halt just outside the gates. Ji-hoon quickly checked the fare meter, and his stomach twisted. 9,000 won.
His fingers tightened around his wallet. 9,000 won? That was nearly a month’s worth of allowance back in his hometown. He had read about how expensive Seoul was, but experiencing it firsthand was something else entirely.
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It was a good thing his scholarship covered relocation costs—although he had to pay now, he would be reimbursed later. Letting out a sigh, he handed over the money, feeling a strange sense of loss as the bills left his hand.
With a reluctant sigh, he handed the driver the money. As the bills left his hand, he felt a strange sense of loss—his first true taste of Seoul’s high cost of living.
The driver gave a polite nod before pulling away, leaving Ji-hoon standing alone in front of the gates of his new world.
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For a moment, he just stood there, his suitcase by his side, staring up at the grandeur of the University. This was it. The beginning of everything he had worked for.
A mixture of emotions churned inside him. Excitement. Nervousness. Determination.
Ji-hoon took a deep breath and stepped forward. His future awaited.
Part 2: Entering the Elite Institution
The moment Ji-hoon stepped through the towering iron gates of the University, he felt like he had walked into another world. It wasn’t just an institution—it was a city within a city. The sheer scale of the campus was breathtaking, stretching far beyond what he had imagined. Wide, meticulously paved roads extended in different directions, leading to grand academic buildings with neoclassical architecture, luxurious dormitories that looked like five-star hotels, and lush gardens that seemed as if they had been taken straight out of a royal palace.
The crisp air carried the scent of freshly cut grass and blooming flowers from the manicured gardens, contrasting with the faint smell of new textbooks and polished marble from the surrounding structures. The university was alive with activity.
All around him, students bustled about, some dragging suitcases behind them while others excitedly chatted in groups. The campus was filled with a variety of voices, and Ji-hoon quickly realized just how diverse the student body was.
He heard the refined, polished Seoul accent, but also the softer, lilting tones of students from other provinces. Some spoke in Jeolla dialect, others in the Gyeongsang dialect, and a few even had accents that suggested they were from Jeju Island. Amidst the chatter, he caught snippets of English, Chinese, Japanese, and even French, signaling the presence of international students. This wasn’t just a school for Korea’s elite—it was a melting pot of the world’s most brilliant minds.
Ji-hoon took a deep breath, taking it all in. The scale, the people, the atmosphere—it was all overwhelming. This was no ordinary university.
Near the entrance, he spotted a large, domed building where students seemed to be entering in waves. Some carried documents in their hands, while others held folders embossed with the university’s golden crest.
“Must be the check-in area,” Ji-hoon muttered to himself.
As he wheeled his suitcase toward the building, he noticed a staff member standing nearby. The man was dressed in a crisp navy-blue uniform, his tie perfectly knotted, and his posture straight and formal. Ji-hoon hesitated for a moment before approaching.
"Excuse me," he said politely, "where should I go for check-in?"
The staff member turned to him with a warm but efficient smile, the kind that had been practiced through years of professional hospitality.
"You’ll need to place your luggage here first," the man instructed, pointing toward a neatly arranged row of suitcases. "Only take essential items like documents, ID, and personal valuables. We’ll transport the rest to your dorm later."
Ji-hoon nodded, setting his suitcase down carefully. The idea of handing over all his belongings to someone else felt foreign to him, but he knew he had no choice.
Before he could move on, the staff member handed him a navy blue backpack with the university’s emblem—a golden phoenix entwined around a shield—embroidered elegantly on the front.
"This is yours," the staff member said. "Use it to carry your essentials."
Ji-hoon ran his fingers over the smooth, high-quality fabric of the backpack. It was far better in quality than anything he had ever owned.
Swallowing his emotions, he quickly transferred his documents, wallet, phone, and a few personal items into the bag before handing over his suitcase.
The staff member gave a polite nod and gestured toward the administrative building. "Head inside for registration. Welcome to Royal University of South Korea."
Ji-hoon gave a small bow before turning toward the main doors, his heart beating faster with every step.
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Inside the administrative building, the atmosphere was just as structured and efficient as the rest of the university.
The grand hall had an air of prestige, with marble floors that gleamed under the chandelier lights, and massive pillars lined with gold engravings. Despite the overwhelming luxury, everything operated with military precision.
There were several counters, each one labeled with signs indicating different categories:
* General Admissions
* Scholarship Verification
* International Student Registration
* Dormitory Assignments
Ji-hoon spotted a queue marked "Scholarship Recipients" and quickly joined the line. The students ahead of him looked as nervous as he felt, clutching their documents and glancing around the hall. Some whispered excitedly, while others maintained a calm, composed demeanor.
The line moved swiftly, with staff members guiding students toward different cubicles where their details were verified and entered into the system. When it was finally Ji-hoon’s turn, he stepped forward to face the university representative, a middle-aged woman in a formal gray suit.
She adjusted her glasses and offered him a neutral smile. "Name?"
Ji-hoon cleared his throat. "Kim Ji-hoon."
The woman nodded and typed quickly into the system, scanning through records before retrieving a stack of documents.
"I see you’re on a full scholarship," she said. "We’ll need to verify a few details before finalizing your registration."
She asked for his ID, high school transcripts, and scholarship confirmation letter. Ji-hoon handed them over, watching as she meticulously checked each document. After a few moments, she gave a satisfied nod and stamped his papers.
"Everything is in order. Welcome to Royal University of South Korea, Kim Ji-hoon."
She handed him a small package containing several important items:
1. A temporary student ID card – A sleek card with his name, student number, and a QR code.
2. A detailed map of the campus – Ji-hoon’s eyes widened at the sheer size of it.
3. His dormitory assignment – Dormitory C, Room 407.
"Make sure to attend orientation tomorrow morning. Your official student ID will be issued then," the staff member added.
Ji-hoon exhaled slowly, relief and excitement filling his chest. It was real now. He was officially a student of the most prestigious university in South Korea.
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Stepping out of the administrative office, Ji-hoon took a moment to absorb his surroundings.
The afternoon sun cast a golden glow over the campus, highlighting the grandeur of the university. Elegant pathways stretched across the landscape, connecting various academic buildings, dormitories, and recreational areas. Students continued to move in groups, their conversations filled with excitement, nerves, and anticipation for what lay ahead.
Ji-hoon pulled out his campus map and traced his finger to Dormitory C. It was located toward the northwest section of the university, near the student activity center and a large lake.
He adjusted his backpack and took a deep breath. Tomorrow, his new life would begin.
For now, he had one mission—finding his dormitory and preparing for the journey ahead.