seoul-bongeun-sa-temple-buddha-modern-skyline.jpg
Seoul, South Korea

Engineering & Automotives

STEM

Dates

-

3 weeks

Costs

$6,650

Highlights

Career exploration

Daily activities and excursions

Design practice

Hostel/hotel

Application Deadline

Enroll Now

Request Information

Dates

-

3 weeks

Costs

$6,650

Highlights

Career exploration

Daily activities and excursions

Design practice

Hostel/hotel

Application Deadline

Enroll Now

Request Information

Overview
From factory tours to prototype testing—experience automotive engineering in action.

If you’ve ever wondered what makes a car move or how engineers design smarter, more efficient systems, this is your kind of summer. In Seoul, you’ll explore the heart of Korea’s auto industry, home to Hyundai and Kia. Alongside a team of fellow Global Navigators, you’ll take on an engineering challenge and build a tested solution of your own.

In hands-on workshops and design labs, you’ll investigate how engines and electronics work, break down real prototypes and practice the full engineering design process—from identifying a problem to pitching your data-backed fix. Meet local engineers, tour a factory floor, and compare how different countries approach innovation in transportation.

You’ll also get time to soak in Seoul’s fast-moving, futuristic vibe. Explore neon-lit markets, robot cafés, and royal palaces in the same afternoon. On weekend trips to Nami Island and Jeonju, you’ll slow down with riverside bike rides, hanok villages, and plenty of photo ops. Your time in Seoul will help you build a standout project for college applications—and spark serious inspiration for a future in engineering, design, or innovation.

A Summer for Fun, Friends, and Your Future

Explore

Have fun discovering Seoul's automotive engineering and latest innovations.

Network

Meet new friends and engineers. Build your own community.

Get Inspired

Launch your future today! Discover South Korean innovation. Collaborate to propose an engineering solution to a contemporary challenge.

Destination
  • Seoul
  • Seoul
  • seoul student city sign

The Destination

Welcome to Seoul—where high-speed innovation meets centuries-old tradition.

Known for its lightning-fast tech and sleek infrastructure, Seoul is one of the most exciting places in the world to explore automotive engineering. You’ll tour an actual car production line, experiment with interactive exhibits at Hyundai Motorstudio Goyang, and see how Korea is embracing emerging technologies such as electric and autonomous vehicles. Whether you're reverse-engineering a prototype or analyzing how form meets function, Seoul puts innovation within reach.

When you’re not exploring how things work, you’ll dive into everything that makes Seoul a bucket-list city. Walk the grounds of Gyeongbokgung Palace—a massive 14th-century complex filled with ornate gates and colorful royal halls. Try sizzling bulgogi (Korean BBQ beef), crispy tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes), or street food skewers in one of the city’s neon-lit markets. With towering skyscrapers, high-speed trains, and K-pop pulsing through the streets, Seoul delivers bold contrasts and nonstop energy.

With centuries of tradition and cutting-edge tech in one place, Seoul is the ultimate playground for future engineers.

Cultural Awareness

CIEE wants all our students to feel welcomed, supported, and empowered to succeed while studying abroad. No matter where you choose to study abroad with CIEE, our staff will be on hand throughout your program to provide advice, resources, and support.

 

Social feed above may feature posts from all CIEE Study Abroad programs, including college programs.

Itinerary

Sample Itinerary

Monday–Friday

Each day offers a balance between interactive instruction and cultural activities with time on your own, too. Morning classes and afternoon activities may swap places.

  • Breakfast at the hostel/hotel or a local cafe 
  • Hands-on classes with expert instructors and local activists 
  • Lunch with your fellow Global Navigators 
  • Out and about for a Cultural Activity 
  • Dinner at the study center or out in the city

Weekends

  • Overnight or day excursions to top sites
  • Quality time with friends

Housing

Hostel/hotel, shared rooms with other Global Navigators

Activities
korean temple scavenger hunt abroad

Sample Activities

  • Step back in time at Gyeongbokgung Palace, where colorful rooftops, royal guard uniforms, and massive gates bring 14th-century Korea to life.
  • Join a walking tour of Myeongdong, Seoul’s busiest shopping district, where you’ll snack on street food, snap neon-lit photos, and pick up some K-beauty souvenirs with friends.
  • Enjoy a K-pop concert.
  • See how cars are made during a tour of a real Korean auto factory—watch machines in motion and trace a vehicle’s journey from parts to production.
  • Play, ride, and explore at Hyundai Motorstudio Goyang, Korea’s largest automotive theme park, where car design meets immersive exhibits and futuristic fun.
Testimonials
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Last week Seoul Navigators got to give back to the new community that they have been a part of. They had the opportunity to do community service while participating in... keep reading

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Here's something you might not know: STEM students are the least likely to get to study abroad during college. With tightly packed schedules and tons of required courses, STEM majors... keep reading

Eligibility

Eligibility

Eligibility 

  • Participants must be 14 years old and above.
  • Program open to all current high school students: Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors.  
  • For scholarship eligibility requirements, please check our scholarship page

For more information, refer to the detailed Program Essential Eligibility Criteria

Dates & Fees

Dates & Fees

Application Fee  

$25  

Program scholarships and tuition include iNext Travel Insurance, but do not cover the cost of flights. Find additional details about what’s included with your tuition.     

More questions? Find answers, get application support, sign up for virtual presentations, or contact us

Program

Application Due

Start Date

End Date

Costs

Program Summer Session I 2026 3 weeks Start Date End Date Costs $6,650
Program Summer Session II 2026 3 weeks Start Date End Date Costs $6,650

Program Fees

CIEE offers the most student support of any provider in its program fee, including an airport greeting, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and CIEE iNext travel protection with benefits.

Program Balance $6,650
Total Fees $6,650

Financial Aid

CIEE offers the most grants and scholarships of any study abroad organization, including $8 million/year in travel grants, merit-based scholarships, institutional and MSI grants, and Gilman Go Global Grants.

See Scholarships

Estimated Costs

Students are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration.

Program Fees

CIEE offers the most student support of any provider in its program fee, including an airport greeting, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and CIEE iNext travel protection with benefits.

Program Balance $6,650
Total Fees $6,650

Financial Aid

CIEE offers the most grants and scholarships of any study abroad organization, including $8 million/year in travel grants, merit-based scholarships, institutional and MSI grants, and Gilman Go Global Grants.

See Scholarships

Estimated Costs

Students are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration.

Ready to change your life?

What's Included

Interactive Classes

Housing

3 Meals/Day

(Dietary Needs Accommodated)

All Ground Transportation

(Once In-country)

Optional Flight Chaperone

(Flight Cost Not Included)

Pre-departure Advice and Orientation

Access to WIFI

(No international data plan or SIM card included)

All Cultural Activities and Excursions

Comprehensive Medical and Travel Protection

24/7 Emergency On-site Support

Staff

Our Staff

Philip Jung

Center Director

Raised in Toronto, Canada, one of the world's most culturally diverse cities, Philip developed a deep passion for cross-cultural connections and education. He holds a Ph.D. in Applied Linguistics with...

Program Leaders guide and support our High School Summer Abroad participants through every step of their program.

Get Started Steps

Get Started

Here’s what you need to do to take the next steps:

1

Start an Application

You're on step closer to an amazing study abroad experience!

2

Connect with your Teachers or Parents

Share your plans and confirm you're on track to meet all required steps to go abroad.

3

Contact Us

Send us an email if you still have questions or need information about enrolling.

Request Info