Tourism & Hospitality Internships in Seoul
Tourism is a fast-growing sector in Korea, only encouraged by global interest in K-culture. Fashion, cuisine, beauty, art, comics, technology and much more have taken the rest of the world by storm, securing South Korea’s place as a top tourist destination. What better place to secure a Tourism & Hospitality internship? Immerse yourself in the culture, language, gaining professional experience to build your resume and confidence!
What to expect from your Tourism & Hospitality internship:
- Build your understanding of diverse customer requirements.
- Gain familiarity with processes required for customer management and bookings.
- Develop networks and relationship-building skills, communicating with multinational, multicultural teams and clients.
- Explore the vibrant city of Seoul, enjoying gastronomy, architecture, art, culture and language.
Your internship abroad host organization:
- Accommodation providers
- Travel and tourism agencies
- Restaurants
- Conference centers
Internship details
Seoul is fast becoming one of the most popular destinations in Asia, as the city boasts abundant tourist attractions for both domestic and foreign visitors to enjoy. It is a shopper’s paradise and a gastronomic haven! Whether you’re interested in history, fashion, beauty, cuisine, music, unique architecture, scenic hiking trails, or other iconic aspects of “K-culture” there is no shortage of immersive opportunities and experiences to enjoy in this thriving destination. Tourism & Hospitality internships in Seoul reward friendly, proactive people who are keen to hone their skills in an industry which offers unique opportunities worldwide. Come prepared to gain fresh insight into business practices that can help you build new skills and confidence.
This is an in-country internship, with accommodation included. You can explore remote internships, if you are looking for an internship program that you can undertake at home.
Tourism & Hospitality internships in Seoul provide immersive learning platforms, which can assist you to develop versatile skills for various career paths. This sector includes professionals with a range of different talents and focus areas, be it administration, customer service, reservations, digital marketing, finance, hospitality, and more. Interns are encouraged to have an open-minded approach and embrace a diverse learning opportunity, which can call upon strong communication skills, cultural intelligence, adaptability, and initiative.
Internship placements are available across broad businesses, such as accommodation providers, tourism agencies, travel agencies, hotels, conference centers, and more. Internship roles and responsibilities therefore vary and individual experiences vary, as the specific placement that you’re assigned will depend on review of your resume and your current level of studies and experience. Placement preferences are considered but always subject to availability. Regardless of your exact role, you’ll gain real-world experience in a vibrant, international city that is a leader within the exciting and adventurous tourism and hospitality industries.
Korean language proficiency is not a requirement to join. However, interns should expect that a language barrier can still be encountered to a certain extent. Interns should be prepared for the very natural and normal frustration of not always understanding what is being said around them. Come prepared and willing to surmount a language barrier (and ask for help when needed), as opposed to being intimidated by it. We encourage all interns to take advantage of Korean language lessons, which must be coordinated in advance, upon request.
In all cases, interns should expect that the first week of your experience will focus on settling in and gaining some introductory knowledge, as you will not “hit the ground running”. Rather, you should start with learning about the placement to gain an understanding of what you can build upon, develop, learn, and contribute. Ensure that you ask questions and provide feedback during the introductory period, so that your supervisor(s) understands how you’re progressing. This will help them to better understand important details, such as how quickly you learn, what you find challenging, what you find interesting, etc.
Typical Schedule
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Monday to Friday. The internship timetable is expected to be full time, but depending on your assigned placement, may be based on shift rosters. This could involve early starts, late finishes, or weekend participation. This will reflect standard industry hours and not require more than 40 hours per week, so you will still have free time to enjoy the city. Interns should come prepared to be flexible and communicate requests in regard to preferred timetables, which can be taken into consideration when planning.
What are the career benefits of interning abroad as a Tourism & Hospitality Intern?
Tourism & Hospitality interns learn from a qualified and experienced supervisor, and can be involved in:
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Customer service provision.
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Supporting front-of-house duties and reservation management.
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Advising clients, assisting with bookings, event planning, and itineraries.
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Digital marketing and promotional activities.
Professional development opportunities:
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Develop cross-cultural competencies, learning how to communicate and collaborate with diverse cultures and working professionals.
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Gain understanding of various operational, administrative, and logistical requirements within the industry.
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Enhance experience related to digital marketing and social media strategies within the tourism and hospitality sector.
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Gain practical skills and boost your employability, with guidance from RISEWAY’s Experiential Learning Curriculum to support your learning and cultural intelligence.
Are you eligible for this internship?
Submit a free application so we can confirm your eligibility and check availability for your preferred dates.
Not sure which program to join?
South Korea photo gallery
Academic credit available for all internships
Get course credit from your college or university while completing your internship abroad or a remote internship program. It's a great way to meet your academic requirements and gain valuable experience at the same time.
Learn about course creditProgram fees
Applying for our Tourism & Hospitality Internship is completely free! The support package covers the assistance we provide in finding your internship and arranging your living accommodations in your host country, ensuring you thrive during your program.
Please note that a deposit of US$499 is required to confirm your place. The remaining balance (minus your initial US$499 deposit) is due at least 60 days before your internship start date.
Duration |
Program Fee (USD) |
|---|---|
| 8 weeks | $6,029 Equivalent to $107 /day |
| 10 weeks | $6,919 Equivalent to $98 /day |
| 12 weeks | $8,009 Equivalent to $95 /day |
- Airport pick-up
- Accommodation
- 24/7 in-country support
- Program orientation
- Dedicated support before, during, and after your internship
- In-country guidance for social and tourist activities
- Sourcing and securing your internship placement
- Personalization of your internship plan
- Coaching from your supervisor
- Documented portfolio of your experiential learnings
- Academic credit facilitation
- International reference letter
- Certificate of Internship Completion
- All meals
- All in-country transportation
- Visa (if required), flights, travel insurance (mandatory), vaccinations, criminal background check
- Transfer back to the airport at the end of your internship program
- Personal spending money for snacks, drinks, public transport, laundry, and leisure activities during your free time.
- A deposit of $499 (approximately 499) is required to secure your internship
- It is important to note that internships in South Korea do not include meals and interns should budget to cover this Independently.
- Balance of your Program Fee is due 70 days before your internship start date. The Program Fee payment can also be completed in installments through our Zero-Fee Payment Plan. Learn more.
- All payments attract a 5% transaction fee to cover international banking fees and currency charges.
- Terms and Conditions apply.
Free-time experiences & tours in Seoul
Take your internship to the next level with RISEWAY's affordable activity and tour add-ons in Seoul! Explore your options below and learn how to book them once you've been accepted onto an internship program.
Gain some basic Korean language skills prior to your internship abroad - focus on simple communication skills.
Gain some basic Korean language skills prior to your internship abroad - focus on simple communication skills.
Weekends and travel
Seoul is an amazing megacity with much to offer for tourism and leisure activities!
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Nature lovers can join the locals for hikes. All four of the city’s guardian mountains (Bukaksan, Naksan, Namsan and Inwangsan) have hiking routes which can be accessed by following the remains of the Seoul City Wall.
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The Namsan Tower, aka N Seoul Tower, is located in the heart of Seoul. You can get there by cable car, bus or on foot. The tower’s observatory offers a 360° view of the city and offers some spectacular views.
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HIstory fans can visit all five palaces in Seoul (Gyeongbokgung Palace, Changdeokgung Palace, Changgyeonggung Palace, Deoksugung Palace and Gyeonghuigung Palace) and have a glimpse into the lives of Korean royalty. The various palaces offer exciting adventures in secret gardens, elegant greenhouses, majestic throne halls, stone bridge ponds and stunning Joseon architecture. Bukchon Hanok Village, with many restored traditional Korean houses (called hanoks) - that are around 600 years old - is another popular destination for tourists.
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For those who appreciate architecture and art, check out the Dongdaemun Design Plaza & Park, Seoul City Hall, and the Laeum Samsung Museum of Art.
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Seoul is a shopper’s paradise! Shop around Insadong for Korean art, traditional paper products, homewares and antiques. Don’t miss Ssamziegil, a multi-storey shopping complex with more than 70 shops, galleries and cafés. Shopping in the Gangnam district is legendary - don’t miss Apgujeong Rodeo Street, Cheongdam Fashion Street and the massive underground COEX shopping mall, which includes an innovative aquarium and kimchi museum.
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Food connoisseurs must visit the famous Gwangjang market for tteokbokki (spicy rice cake), Japchae (glass noodle stir fry), mandu (dumplings) and Janchi Guksu (warm noodle soup). Keep an eye out for the Cho Yonsoon knife-cut noodle shop. Myeongdong and Insadong are also great places to explore for food.
Arrival and Orientation
Internships in Seoul, South Korea, begin every Monday of the year. Exceptions to this schedule may be made to this when start dates are shifted to avoid holiday disruptions, or closed when the program has already reached capacity. Interns may choose to spend a minimum of 8 weeks, up to a maximum of 12 weeks. Airport pick-up and accommodation are included in the Program Fee.
The accommodation is covered from the Saturday night before the Monday start date - interns are required to arrive no later than the Saturday before their Monday start date, as all orientations are held on Mondays.
The typical port of entry is the Incheon International Airport (ICN). Airport pick up is provided from this airport only. Upon arrival, interns will be met, greeted, and transferred to the accommodation. If you are planning to spend time independently in South Korea prior to the internship and will not require an airport pick up, we can discuss alternative arrival logistics.
Prior to your internship start date, the local coordinators in Seoul will contact you concerning a pre-departure orientation. They will provide guidelines and assist with the facilitation of your arrival plans. The internship placement orientation takes place on your Monday start date.
The last night of the accommodation is the Friday night of the final week, leaving interns free to depart on Saturday. Extra nights of accommodation can be arranged in advance, if requested, and are subject to availability. Return transportation to the airport is not included in the internship program fee but local coordinators can assist you to make arrangements, upon request.
Please note that all participants are advised not to book flights until they have first registered to confirm their internship placement.
Check what's required to visit South Korea
Check out the widget below to learn about the visa requirements for the Tourism & Hospitality internship in South Korea, based on your country of residence.
Accommodation and WiFi
All interns in Seoul are accommodated with a private non-smoking bedroom and bathroom, in a residence apartment, located within central Seoul. The rooms have WiFi, cable TV, air conditioning, heating, a desk, and a simple kitchenette (with induction hobs and a washing machine). Towels, hairdryers, and other personal hygiene items are not provided, so guests must bring these according to their own needs.
Please note that interns can check in to their accommodation from 3pm onwards. Early check-ins are not possible. Depending on the accommodation, the check-out time is normally between 11am to 12pm - please check with the accommodation upon arrival to ensure that you have the correct check-out time.
Outside of the accommodation, access to WiFi is generally available. Seoul is one of the most well connected cities in the world, offering free Wifi connection in major public streets, parks, markets and public buildings (such as libraries), as well as on every public bus.
Due to the layout of Seoul, accommodation assignments are always made in consideration of the internship placement location, making efforts to ensure that any commute time to the placement is as convenient as possible. Nevertheless, it is wise to anticipate an average commute time to and from the internship placement of up to 60 minutes (each way). Internship placements can be based in Seoul or on the major industrial outskirts of Seoul Capital Area. Seoul has an extensive network of public transportation and one of the world’s largest urban railway networks. The Seoul Metropolitan Subway has consistently voted as one of the best in the world for its ease of use, cleanliness, and frequency of service. Interns should plan on budgeting approximately US$20 per week for public transportation costs.
Please note that the accommodation pictured in the photo gallery of this webpage is provided as an example. Since we work with more than one option for accommodation, the exact accommodation that you’re assigned may differ from the photos. However, you can expect a similar standard and similar amenities, to what is shown.
Meals
Internships in South Korea do not include meals. The program accommodation includes a simple kitchenette. Supermarkets are easily accessible.
There are a wide variety of options available, catering to different budgets and tastes. From delicious street food to fast food joints, casual local restaurants to mid-range dining options, and even high-end luxury restaurants - there is something to suit every palate and budget.
Convenience stores are plentiful and supermarkets are scattered throughout the country, providing a range of ready-to-eat meals (like dosirak box meals), snacks, and groceries at affordable prices. These options can be a great choice for interns on a tight budget or those looking for a quick and convenient meal.
South Korea has an amazing street food culture, so don’t forget to visit places like Gwangjang Market (made famous by Netflix), Myeongdong Street Food Alley and Dongdaemun Night Market, where you can try kimbap (sesame-oil-flavored rice roll with fillings wrapped in seaweed), mandu (dumplings), tornado potato and tteokbokki (rice cakes smothered in spicy gochujang sauce)!
The cost of food and dining in South Korea can vary widely depending on where you choose to dine. The average price range for street food or fast food is between US$2 - US$5. Casual dining restaurants will cost around US$5 - US$15 and you can expect to pay US$30 and above at fine dining and luxury restaurants. A weekly budget of US$250 is recommended for meals and considered to be sufficient. However, bear in mind that your weekly spending budget will be determined by your own personal spending habits and lifestyle choices, so please take this into consideration and plan accordingly.
Essential country information
| Capital | Seoul |
| Population | 51.63 million |
| Languages | Korean |
| Currency | South Korean Won (KRW) |
| Time zone | UTC+09:00 |
Weather and climate:
South Korea is known for its four distinct seasons: the winter season is typically cold and dry, while summer is generally hot and humid with a lot of rainfall. Spring and autumn are mostly dry and clear. The average annual temperature is about 61°F (13°C ). The coldest month is January with an average of about 29°F (-2°C) and the hottest month is August with average temperatures sitting around 81°F (26°C). The most pleasant seasons for most people in the city are spring and autumn. Most of Seoul’s precipitation falls in the summer period between June and September, as a part of the East Asian monsoon season.
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