Study in Korea ::: YES International

Brief History

In response to the need for global experience by Korean teenagers, YES International was founded in 2007 as the sister organization of International Workcamp Organization (IWO), whose programs are mostly for college students and adults.

With the aim of providing intercultural experience to foster personal development, build communication and leadership skills, and ultimately supporting youth to grow as global leaders, YES International is acting as the bridge for experiencing inter-cultures.

YES International is actively involved with local schools and organizations in developing educational and voluntary opportunities for youth. Various community service projects and international events are in collaboration with governmental organizations such as Ministry for Health, Welfare and Family Matters. On a global level, YES International has more than 40 partner organizations in 23 different countries.

YES International is also the Korean National Office of a worldwide NGO network - The Experiment in International Living (EIL) - which was founded in the USA in 1932.

Mission of YES International

YES International believes in the promotion of intercultural exchange and cooperation for mutual understanding, tolerance and peace to enhance competence of youth in the global community. YES International believes that friendship, peace and solidarity can be achieved by intercultural living, educational exchange and cooperation among people and organizations.

YES International believes by learning to respect and
understand cultural differences through diverse international youth exchange programs, youth can grow
with new perspectives and broaden their worldview
and identity, and ultimately change our society and
the world as global leaders in a constructive and sustainable way.

Programs of YES International

Inviting International Youth

• National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y)
We are the chief organizing body of NSLI-Y, the exchange program funded by the US State Department. Every year, over 50 students learn about Korean language and culture in an immersion environment, where they grow as global ambassadors of both the US and Korea.

• World Learning High School Program
Every year since 1932, the EIL World Learning Program has chosen American teenagers to be sent to countries all over the world. The teenagers in the Korean program participate under the theme of "Peace and Unity on the Korean Peninsula" and learn about peace efforts concerning the division.

• Korea Discovery Program
Year-round, teenagers from around the world come to Korea, experiencing the culture and the history for themselves as they make friends and discover the true Korea.

• Homestay Program
Teenagers transcend nationality by becoming a member of a Korean family. With their families they experience daily life and customs, making the homestay program the most direct way of learning about Korean culture

International Volunteer Service

• Teenage International Workcamp
The Workcamp rose out of the ruins of World War I, as a blueprint for peace and harmony in the world. For two to three weeks each year, teenagers from around the world gather in France for activities including reconstruction, environmental protection, and cultural preservation.

• Cooperation among local districts
We strive to give teenagers a sense of the world at its widest by offering them the resources and a support system for developing into global citizens

Education for Global Citizens

• Global Leaders' Action
With the success of its international exchange program, YES International is helping teenagers to establish a global network. We offer a range of resources and support for our students, including forums on the global environment, diverse international programs, and the UNESCO world heritage seminar.

• iEARN Online Education
With over 30,000 teachers and 2,000,000 students from 130 countries around the world, this program serves to promote international exchange and education online. Korean teachers and students work on collaborative projects with students from other countries, while learning about culture, history, and language.

Student Exchange

• International High School Program
Teenagers aged 15 to 18 from around the world take formal classes as exchange students in public high schools in 8 countries, including the US, Canada, Ireland, Germany, and France

• International Youth Camp
Over 300 teenagers from 10 countries around the world gathered for 13 days at Mersea Island in the UK. As they made memories and participated together in a number of activities, these teenagers built a multi-national community, ultimately learning much from each other over the course of the program.

"Study in Korea" Organized by YES International