Portuguese Students Shocked by Korean University Cafeteria: “I Want to Eat Here Every Day!”
On the April 24 episode of MBC Every1’s “Welcome, First Time in Korea?”, a group of brilliant students from Portugal visit Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (HUFS) to immerse themselves in authentic Korean campus life.
Eager to experience the Portuguese language department in Korea, the students attend a lecture as guest auditors. With native-level fluency, they impress not only their professor by confidently answering questions but also their peers by stepping into the role of impromptu tutors during grammar discussions.
However, what truly stunned the Portuguese visitors wasn’t the lecture, it was the Korean university cafeteria.
After class, the group heads to the student cafeteria, only to be left in awe by the incredibly affordable meal prices. In particular, Francisco compares it to his home experience: “In the Netherlands, even a piece of garlic bread costs 7 euros (approximately 11,350 KRW),” he said. So when faced with a full meal for just 4,000 KRW, he declared the experience so good that he’d want to return daily.
The cultural tour doesn’t stop at food. The episode also features visits to student club booths, which bridge generational gaps, and a tour of a state-of-the-art library that leaves even the most academically driven guests wide-eyed.
Even host Alberto Mondi was impressed, exclaiming, “This isn’t a vacation, it’s practically a study abroad experience!”
This episode of Welcome, First Time in Korea? wasn’t just entertaining, it offered a heartwarming look at Korea’s academic culture through fresh, curious eyes. From the lecture halls to the lunch trays, the Portuguese students found themselves not only impressed but genuinely inspired by what they experienced.
