Daily Busan
A conversation with Lida, an international student at DSU
“If I Were Reborn, I Would Live in Busan Too,” a new web series on BusanTube, the city’s official YouTube channel, has released its third episode. The series features people from various backgrounds as they share their personal experiences of living in Busan.
The videos offer a glimpse into life in Busan as experienced by non-Koreans, highlighting the city’s unique charms from a fresh perspective. For this edition, we spoke with Lida, an Iranian student featured in the third episode. As a public service design major, she shared her perspective on Busan’s public spaces and reflected on what studying in the city means to her.
Q. Could you please introduce yourself?
Hello, my name is Lida. I am from Iran and currently pursuing my master’s degree in design at Dongseo University in Busan. My focus is on inclusive service design, especially improving accessibility and experiences for foreigners in Korea. I also have a background in visual communication and over five years of experience in graphic design.
Q. What inspired you to study in Korea, particularly in Busan? And what led you to study public service design?
I chose Korea because of its strong reputation in design, innovation and cultural creativity. Busan attracted me not only as a vibrant port city with international diversity but also because it is a growing hub for design and cultural exchange.
During my time here, I have experienced firsthand the challenges that foreigners face in public services, such as language barriers in emergencies or difficulties with banking. These experiences inspired me to study public service design specifically in Busan, as I wanted to work on solutions that can make daily life easier for both foreigners and locals.
Q. As a specialist in the field, where do you think public service design has been well implemented in Busan?
Busan has made significant progress in areas such as public transportation design. The subway lines, with their clear color-coded systems and the integration of metro–bus transfers, are strong examples. Additionally, the city has developed public spaces such as the F1963 cultural complex and the Gwangan Bridge area with inclusive elements that cater to diverse visitors. However, there is still room for improvement in accessibility for foreigners in administrative services, emergency services and digital platforms.
Q. How has your experience of studying abroad in Busan influenced your values or career goals?
Studying in Busan has taught me to view design not only as visual aesthetics but also as a social tool for inclusivity and equity. My personal experiences of facing barriers here gave me empathy and motivation to design solutions for others. It shifted my career goals from focusing mainly on visual design to working in service design and UX design, with the aim of improving systems where cultural and language differences create challenges. In general, I like to help people, and Busan is giving me the opportunity to do that.
Q. Could you give some advice to students in Iran who are thinking about studying in Busan?
My advice would be: come with an open mind and patience. Living in a new culture is challenging, but Busan offers many opportunities for growth and inspiration. Learn the Korean language as much as possible; it will make both daily life and studies much easier.
Also, don’t hesitate to share your own culture because Busan is a city that values international exchange. Finally, try to connect your personal experiences with your academic projects; it will make your research meaningful and unique.
<Today's Vocabulary - 오늘의 단어>
inclusive: 포괄적인 accessibility: 접근성 reputation: 명성 creativity: 창의성 empathy: 공감 hesitate: 망설이다
Editor: Song Soomi
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