{
  "id": 15703438,
  "title": "The spirit of Korean universities",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/20/the-spirit-of-korean-universities",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-20T05:12:02.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/opinion/20261021/the-spirit-of-korean-universities"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A pivotal moment in the author's cultural adjustment to Korea occurred when a teacher initiated a class roll call and directly contacted absent students. Without hesitation, she inquired about their absence and their failure to notify her. The international students, including the author, were taken aback by the teacher's direct approach, as in their home country of Poland, such behavior would be considered unprofessional. Teacher-student relationships in Korea starkly contrast those in Poland. In Korea, faculty members are often unfamiliar to students, with the exception of those who serve as supervisors. There is no expectation for professors to remember students' names or even respond to emails. Students tend to keep personal lives separate from academic matters. In stark contrast, Korean culture embraces a different norm. It is customary for students to exchange phone numbers or KakaoTalk profiles, enabling them to seek additional clarification, recommend resources, or share relevant articles. Korean professors frequently express interest in students' home countries, exchanging cultural references such as webtoon links and occasionally inquiring about the students' well-being during holidays. At Korea University, an elderly professor initially maintained a distance throughout the academic year. However, he eventually demonstrated a more approachable demeanor by ordering pizza and fried chicken for himself.",
  "summary": "One of my first culture shocks in Korea came when a teacher took attendance and then phoned everyone who hadn't shown up. Without a trace of embarrassment, she asked why they were absent and why they hadn't warned her. They were international students who, like me, didn't know that here, you contact your lecturer not only before missing class, but simply to introduce yourself. Teacher-student…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": "The shift from professional distance to personal connection redefines the academic experience, turning traditional classroom boundaries into spaces for cultural exchange and communal bonding between students and faculty.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "The spirit of Korean universities",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/20/the-spirit-of-korean-universities-15707135",
        "published": "2026-10-20T05:52:03.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}