Korean Conflict Could Affect Abroad Plans

On November 23^rd, without warning North Korea launched heavy artillery fire at the South Korean island of Yeonpyeong. The deadly firing killed two South Korean marines, two civilians and injured multiple others—civilians and marines alike. South Korea attempted to return fire as residents of Yeonpyeong sought shelter from the attack.

Later that Tuesday North Korea released an official statement saying their attack was in response to South Korea’s fire. They claimed South Korea was conducting military firing drills into their side of a long disputed maritime border between the two.

The encounter between the two stems from over 60 years of tension: the origin being the Korean War. After World War II Korea was freed from Japanese rule and divided into two countries: a democratic one set up by the United States and a communist one set up by the then Soviet Union. Within five years to two were at war and though an armistice was signed in 1953, the tension between the two has never resolved.

“It’s just tough because I’ve really been wanting to study abroad in Asia and South Korea was definitely one of the places I was looking at because OU has so many programs there,” says OU student Katie Lloyd. “With the recent events there is just a lot more to take into consideration now.”

OU Study Abroad Program offices located in the Beatrice Carr Wallace Old Science Hall

Lloyd, a junior, plans on studying abroad the fall semester of her senior year. Western Carolina University has already reported one of their fall study abroad students returning home early from South Korea’s University in Daejeon. OU’s study abroad advisors were not available for comment on how the conflict will affect the University’s study abroad programs in South Korea. For more information on OU study abroad options visit http://www.ou.edu/ea/home.html.

To hear more of what affect Katie Lloyd believes the events could have on study abroad plans, click here: