BY ADA KILIÇARSLAN (ECON/IV)
Name: Myounghoi Kwon
Department: Industrial Engineering
Country of Origin: Republic of Korea
What do you like best about Turkey?
The clear sky! We can’t see sky this clear in Korea due to fine dust in the air. I had asthma when I was in Korea, and it’s been cured in Turkey (haha).
Are there any similarities between Turkey and your home country?
All Turkish people know that Korea and Turkey as countries share a brotherhood. After the Korean War began in 1950, Turkish troops came to Korea and helped us in the war. There are lots of similarities between Turkey and Korea. I know that the language structure of Korean and Turkish, especially the grammar, is very similar.
What will you miss most about Bilkent/Turkey?
I think I’ll miss the people here. People in Turkey are so kind and friendly. In Korea, it’s not common to ask foreigners questions, but Turkish people, especially students at Bilkent, are different. For example, once when I was heading to the EE building, a bunch of girls ran up to ask where I was from, and they were so friendly. I’ll miss all the Turkish people I’ve met here.
What’s your favorite place on campus, and why?
Speed Café would be my best place. There’s plenty of food, and I really enjoy it.
What’s your favorite Turkish food and/or favorite part of Turkish culture?
Ayran! I love it. And I also enjoy Turkish tea. I think I’m addicted to çay already.
Where do you expect to see yourself 10 years from now?
I’ll probably be in my mother country, Korea. Even though I love Turkish food, I really miss Korean food, and that’s why I visit a Korean restaurant every week (haha). And I have my family, my dogs and my business in Korea, So I think I’ll be in Korea 10 years from now.
What’s the hardest challenge you’ve handled in Turkey?
Figuring out how to get a card for public transportation was so hard for me when I first came to Turkey. I was carrying 40kg of luggage and was tired from the long flights. When I arrived at AŞTİ, Google Maps said I had to take the metro, but after trying to print a card for an hour, I eventually took the bus.
What cities have you visited in Turkey, and which one is your favorite?
Actually, I haven’t visited many cities in Turkey, only Antalya. But Antalya was the best place I’ve ever been. Beautiful views, Lara Beach, Perge – everywhere I went was my favorite place. But since all my Turkish friends say that I should visit İstanbul, I’ll go there in November, I guess, and see the football match between Fenerbahçe and Galatasaray. (There’s a Korean player on that team! His name is Min Jae Kim.)
What’s an interesting question or comment you hear frequently at Bilkent/Turkey?
Questions or comments about “Squid Game” would be the most frequent. Since the series is so famous worldwide, every person who knows I’m Korean always asks about it. I’ve also watched it, and think it’s well done. The games it depicts are actually ones I played in elementary school, so that part was familiar to me. You guys can also give the series a try!
Describe yourself in three words.
Businessman, photographer, Korean.