Experiences of university students participating in an Japan-Korea exchange student program at University A: Focusing on implications for improving Japan-Korea relations through student exchanges

This study explores the impact of the Korea-Japan exchange student program on the development of individual students as well as the improvement of mutual understanding and relations between the two countries. To this end, in-depth interviews were conducted with students who participated in the Korea-Japan exchange student program at a large private university in the Seoul metropolitan area. The results showed that students overcame their existing negative perceptions of Japan through the exchange program and developed an open-mindedness and inclusiveness through cultural and historical exchanges with Japanese students. The study also found that the exchange program had a positive impact on students' career decision self-efficacy, foreign language proficiency, and cultural competence. In particular, students gained a more balanced understanding of historical and political issues between the two countries through local interactions, suggesting that the program could contribute to the development of trust and cooperative relations between the two countries in the long run. This study also highlights the need for differentiated program design that reflects students' academic and personal goals to enhance the effectiveness of exchange programs.