To celebrate the opening, a free drinks event is being held



October 1, 2025, saw the opening ceremony of the Global Lounge, SeoulTech’s new venue for global exchange. Located in the basement level of Sunglim Dormitory, the venue replaces the former Two of Us café and has been remodeled as a place where Korean and international students can communicate and share cultures.

Donghyeon Kim, who became Team Leader of the Administrative Office in 2024, planned and oversaw the opening of the Global Lounge, having long felt the need for a shared campus space where students could communicate freely and relax. Following the opening, Kim expressed satisfaction that the Global Lounge has become a place that meets students’ needs.

In this article, The SeoulTech looks at how the Global Lounge is taking shape, beginning with an interview with one of the exchange students, followed by insights from Kim, who led the project and the future development of the space.

Beata Sachs

(Information Technology Management / 25)

Q. What was your experience of visiting the Global Lounge?

A. It was my first visit, and it felt like a well-furnished, comfortable place to spend time.

Q. Are you aware of the purpose of the remodeled Global Lounge?

A. I wasn’t aware of its purpose. However, I’m looking forward for cultural exchange opportunities. As an exchange student, it’s not always easy to meet Korean students, so having the Global Lounge as a platform for cultural exchange is a good initiative.

Q. Are there any programs you’d like to see in the Global Lounge?

A. A movie night where Korean and international students can watch movies together would be a good idea. I’d be willing to participate, as the lounge is close to the dormitory.

Following the interview with Beata Sachs, The SeoulTech found that many students are satisfied with what the Global Lounge has offered. However, students also pointed out areas for improvement, including conditions of entry and opening hours. Based on this feedback, The SeoulTech spoke with Kim, who led the creation of the Global Lounge.

Donghyeon Kim

(Team Leader / Administrative Office)

Q. What is the motivation behind the Global Lounge?

A. The Global Lounge was designed to meet the needs of both Korean and international students, and an area SeoulTech has recently focused on. One aspect of this focus has been improving the aging Sunglim Dormitory. With the opening of the Global Lounge, the dormitory can now go beyond its original role of providing accommodation and meals to support the development of students’ global competencies. Since the lack of space on campus for students to relax has always been a problem, the Global Lounge became a way to solve this. The office is pleased to see that many students are enjoying the space. However, there is misconception that using the Global Lounge requires purchasing a beverage at the café. We would like to make sure that the lounge is a separate, communal space open to all students, regardless of purchase.

Q. Please tell us about the programs hosted by the dormitory and the vision for them.

A. The future vision is to go beyond simply providing a living space and instead become a palace for interaction, relaxation, and cultural exchange. A survey of domestic corporations revealed that SeoulTech students lack global competencies compared to other universities. Therefore, I believe it’s necessary to develop this area. To achieve this, I believe understanding the cultures and environments of other countries is crucial. With this in mind, I began considering what role the dormitory could play, which ultimately led to the idea of the Global Lounge as a platform for cultural exchange. Through the space, we plan to offer a range of programs that encourage interaction between Korean and international students, including plogging activities, cultural exchange days, environmental volunteer programs, dance and band performances, and International Coffee Hours.

At present, Korean students typically share dormitory rooms only with students of the same nationality. I believe that allowing Korean and international students to share rooms could be even more beneficial for developing global competencies, but we are approaching this carefully due to potential discomfort. As a result, initiatives such as Matching Day are being planned, which will further increase the potential for cultural exchange in the near future.

Q. In interviews with students, there were some complaints about the entry button, particularly that it is too far away from the door. Are there any plans to improve this?

A. It might require a budget, but it’s worth considering a change if students need it.

Q. Another student questioned the Global Lounge’s operating hours during exam periods. Since hours were extended during this semester’s midterms, are there plans to do so again in the future?

A. The Global Lounge normally opens from 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM. During the last exam period, we extended operating hours from 9:00 AM to midnight. We also plan to extend operating hours during the upcoming exam periods.

Q. While the space was designed for interaction with international students, it seems to have limitations in that it doesn’t actively encourage interaction. As an alternative, some suggested a movie nights could be a good event. What is your view on this?

A. I think it could be implemented through collaboration with other departments. Various departments on campus are running a range of programs, which the Administrative Office hosts in the Global Lounge. The International Coffee Hour, held on November 18 (6:30 PM—8:00 PM), was hosted in collaboration with the Office of International Affairs. It’s a program where students can freely gather and engage in conversations with Korean and international students. Besides our current offerings, we’re very open to other events. Movie nights, where students can watch films or videos and perhaps discuss them before or after, could be a great addition.

Q. Do you have any final message?

A. Since taking office, I’ve realized that our role is to offer not only the infrastructure for residential living, but also other programs as well. We are planning more programs through collaboration with other departments to meet this goal. Additionally, there are plans to remodel and expand the communal kitchen, scheduled for December of 2025 at the earliest. This will enhance the dining experience for international students. We anticipate that the dormitory will become a hub for developing global competencies.

Team Leader, Kim, announced plans to develop a diverse range of programs to enable more active exchange between Korean and international students, collaborating with various departments. The SeoulTech looks forward to the dormitory’s future endeavors.

Reporters

Hyeonseon Namgung

namgung0121@seoultech.ac.kr

Jaeho Lim

limjaeho4119@seoultech.ac.kr

Hyewon Kim

happyhw2@seoultech.ac.kr