During my stay, I found life to be both enjoyable and comfortable; however, I frequently encountered cultural differences. The most significant moment when I felt these differences was during meals. In Korea, individual activities seem to be less common, and unless there were special circumstances, lunch and dinner were almost always shared with all the members of the laboratory. Additionally, the phrase used before starting a meal was not "Itadakimasu" as in Japan, but rather "Enjoy your meal." This phrase emphasized greetings towards senior members rather than gratitude for the food itself, which was a refreshing experience that made me recognize the influence of Confucian values in society.

Furthermore, I felt the warmth and friendliness of Korean people through my interactions with students. From the very first day of my arrival, local students approached me for conversations and brought up topics related to hobbies, which naturally facilitated communication. Of course, I also took the initiative to engage with local students and actively participated in conversations to deepen our interactions. I particularly became close with undergraduate interns, and even now, we continue to stay in touch almost every day. Through this experience, I was able to feel the strong sense of emotional connection among Koreans. They tend to cherish those who become part of their social circle and show kindness even to people they are meeting for the first time.

Another aspect that left a strong impression on me was the enthusiasm of Korean master's and doctoral students towards research. In Japan, it is almost an unspoken rule for science students to proceed to the master's program. However, in Korea, only students who are truly passionate about research choose to enter graduate school, which results in a higher level of enthusiasm for research compared to Japanese students. Moreover, most students who advance to a master's program continue to a doctoral program. This difference in career paths was another point where I noticed a clear distinction. I also felt that Japan should adopt a similar approach, where only highly motivated students pursue a master's degree. Many Japanese master's students prioritize job hunting and their personal lives over research, making those who are genuinely passionate about their studies a minority. To enhance the research quality of Japanese universities, I believe it is necessary to reconsider the widespread tendency for science students to advance to graduate school as a default path.

Additionally, during my two-month stay, I had numerous opportunities to experience Korean food culture. Compared to Japanese cuisine, Korean cuisine skillfully incorporates spiciness as a fundamental flavor. Once I became accustomed to spiciness, I found myself craving the stimulating taste, often leading me to eat more than usual. One of the most striking differences I noticed was in alcoholic beverages. As I have always been fond of Japanese sake, I was naturally interested in Korean alcoholic drinks as well. However, the most popular alcoholic beverages in Korea were soju, distilled liquor, and beer. I was particularly surprised to learn that Korean soju contained added sweeteners and other additives. In contrast, Japanese shochu, whether it is the more refined type (Ko-rui) or the traditional type (Otsu-rui), typically does not include significant flavor-altering additives. Moreover, even Korean fermented liquors such as makgeolli contained sweeteners and acids to adjust the taste. Since I prefer alcohol that allows me to enjoy the natural flavors of the ingredients, I became curious about the reasons behind the frequent use of additives in commercially available Korean alcoholic beverages.

One more essential aspect of my experience was the cold weather. The city where I stayed, Daejeon, is located at a latitude like Niigata, and the temperature felt roughly the same as in Niigata. However, the dryness in Korea was on an entirely different level compared to Japan. While indoor spaces were extremely warm and comfortable due to the unique floor heating system called "Ondol," the severe dryness caused me to wake up with a sore throat every morning. Additionally, since the indoor temperature was significantly higher than the outside temperature, the drastic temperature difference made choosing appropriate clothing quite challenging.