Ava Leonard, International Internship Program Seoul (IIP), Summer 2026
When I first decided to spend my summer in Seoul, I knew I wanted to experience the city and learn more about Korean culture. What made my experience through the Absolute Internship program different, though, was that I was not simply taking classes abroad. I was actually living in Seoul while working for a company, gaining professional experience, and building relationships with people from colleges across the United States.
I was placed with JHSUSTAIN, a sustainability and development consulting company focused on climate resilience, environmental governance, and sustainable development. Instead of only learning about these topics in a classroom, I was able to contribute to actual projects and experience what working in an international company was like.
One of my projects involved helping build the company’s LinkedIn presence. I also helped prepare a briefing for a potential partner for a project in Sri Lanka and assisted with research for upcoming projects. Being trusted with this type of work made me feel like I was contributing to the company instead of simply completing an assignment for a class.
The internship matching process was another part of the program that stood out to me. Before arriving in Korea, I talked with the program coordinators about my previous experiences, career goals, interests, and what I hoped to get out of my time in Korea. If someone did not know exactly what type of internship they wanted, they could explain their interests and the program would help match them with a company. After being matched, I went through an interview with the company.
One of my favorite parts was realizing how quickly my internship became part of my everyday life. I would wake up at my hotel, get ready for work, walk past people in suits on my way to the train, stop at a convenience store for coffee, and sometimes grab breakfast from a street vendor. There were so many moments when I would stop and think, “I am actually working in Seoul.”
Seoul also showed me how many professional opportunities exist internationally. It is a major global business center with innovative technology, major companies, and a fast moving economy. Experiencing that environment while working made the idea of an international career feel much more realistic to me.
Another part of Absolute Internship that I loved was the community. Every other Wednesday, interns from different companies came together for mixers. The coordinators organized activities such as getting bingsu, playing Squid Game themed games, and visiting traditional overlooks. I met students from Tennessee, Florida, Boston College, Michigan State, Penn, and many other universities.
The friendships I made became some of my favorite parts of the experience. We went to karaoke, traveled to Busan for the Fourth of July, went to a K pop concert, explored Seoul, and even hiked the highest peak in Seoul.
The two month length of the program also made a huge difference. I did not feel like a tourist. I had time to develop a routine, learn the subway, find favorite places, go to work every day, and explore on weekends. I also loved meeting people who had chosen other countries through the program and hearing about their experiences.
What stands out most about Absolute Internship is that I was able to live somewhere, work somewhere, and build a community somewhere rather than simply visit. For two months, Seoul was my home, my workplace, and the place where I made some of my favorite memories.
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