HENDERSON, Tenn. — This past May, for the third time, a select group of faculty and students from FHU’s College of Business embarked on a transformative journey to South Korea as part of their Global Business Experience class.
Front row, L to R: Ana Grace Stephens, Sofia Perez Dorantes, Kim Jolly, Ana Holland and Zena Dorris; Back row, L to R: Taylor Guess, Josh Kuykendall, Caleb Bond and Omer Shifris
Throughout the spring semester, nine students engaged in rigorous class sessions to fully prepare for the personal and professional growth they would experience while immersed in South Korea’s dynamic global business environment. Applications are now available for a new group of students to experience this unique opportunity, with the next trip scheduled for May 19 through June 4, 2025.
“The students seemed to really enjoy the trip this year and made some memories that will stay with them for a lifetime,” Dr. Bryan Black, associate professor of management, said. “This year we brought two international students with us on this trip. It was interesting to see the trip through their eyes. One of our students had been born in Korea but adopted by parents in the United States. This was his first return to Korea, and he really enjoyed his time there experiencing the culture and the people of the country where he was born.”
While in South Korea, the FHU group was hosted by Christian evangelist Sang Yang, and the Bible Correspondence Center (BCC) in Seoul served as the headquarters for their trip. The group spent much of their time in the bustling Seoul Metro area, home to approximately 26 million people and headquarters of several multinational companies including Samsung, LG, Hyundai and Kia. Here, travelers acquired essential business insights, such as the exchange rate dynamics between the dollar and the won, along with practical skills like navigating the complex subway system and mastering the art of eating with chopsticks.
Some cultural sightseeing excursions included the city of Gyeungju, where students walked the grounds of the 2,000-year-old Donggung Palace, explored the 8th-century Bulguksa Buddhist temple and toured the Daereungwon Tomb Complex.
Students outside Gyeongbokgung Palace
Sang also escorted the group to a rarely accessible section of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) in the west, offering them a rare glimpse across the river into North Korea. They also visited the largest U.S. Army post outside the continental U.S.
Zena Dorris, a senior marketing major from Nashville, Tennessee, described this trip as a “fantastic experience.” Some of her favorite moments while traveling included trying new foods such as “tanghulu” (a sugared fruit kebab), visiting a Hanbok museum and trying on traditional Korean clothing, and walking around an old village while learning about its cultural heritage.
Students, teachers and hosts try on traditional Hanbok clothing at the Korean Hanbok Promotion Institute in Sangju
The students also had the opportunity to visit several prominent businesses during their trip. For the second consecutive year, the FedEx team in Incheon graciously hosted the FHU group, providing an insightful tour of their facility and operations.
Tour of FedEx facility and operations
The group also visited two biotech companies in the area of Gangnam: GeneCast, which specializes in advancing early cancer detection, and Macrogen, a leader in exploring health implications tied to individual DNA. The business students also visited Hyundai MotorStudio in Seoul.
Visit to Macrogen in Gangnam
“I believe this experience will greatly benefit my future career,” said Dorris, who hopes to find a job in social media marketing and to grow her photography business after her graduation in May 2025. “The open-minded perspective and flexibility I gained are valuable skills, and the lessons on overcoming language barriers and respecting culture are invaluable, applicable to any business size. It also reminded me of the intelligence and creativity in the business world, motivating me to excel in my academics to stay current on modern solutions and information.”
FHU’s College of Business is planning its next study abroad opportunity in South Korea for May 19 through June 4, 2025. The trip will be open for any B.B.A. or M.B.A. majors interested in studying global business. Students may take this as either an undergraduate or graduate course which will meet weekly in the spring semester to allow more time for cultural and business activities while in Korea. Additional industry trips have already been scheduled in March to Kia and Hyundai facilities in Georgia and Alabama as part of this program.
Spaces on this trip are limited. To be considered, students will need to fill out the online application at fhu.edu/academics/academic-
Dorris shared that she would encourage other students to take advantage of this unique learning opportunity. “I highly recommend this trip to other students,” she said. “The class material was both interesting and applicable, and every experience in South Korea provided a unique and captivating glimpse into their beautiful culture. This experience is invaluable for those interested in working overseas, and even for those who have never considered it.”
The mission of Freed-Hardeman University is to help students develop their God-given talents for His glory by empowering them with an education that integrates Christian faith, scholarship and service. With locations in Henderson and Memphis, FHU offers associate, bachelor’s, master’s, specialist and doctoral degrees. The FHU College of Business offers the Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting, business analytics, finance, financial planning, management, marketing and sport administration. The college also offers a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Healthcare MBA, a 4-plus BBA/MBA. More information is available at fhu.edu.
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