A recent College of Humanities alumna is heading to Korea this fall after a new opportunity changed her plans for life after BYU.
Kathryn Douglas (Korean ’26) has spent years chasing her passion for Korea—and the journey isn’t over yet. This fall, Douglas will move to Seoul, South Korea as she begins a master’s program in Korean studies fully funded by one of the country’s most prestigious scholarships. Though graduate school wasn’t originally in her plans, her time at BYU helped guide her to this next step in her journey.
A Love for All Things Korea
Douglas first discovered Korean culture in high school. Her passion for dance introduced her to K-pop choreography, which eventually led to bingeing Korean dramas and picking up Korean. Before long, Douglas fell in love with all things Korea. She continued pursuing dance after high school, but when she found a program that would allow her to go to Korea to teach English, she took the opportunity to visit the country that had long kept her interest.
After spending two years teaching in Korea and learning more about the language and culture, Douglas decided she wanted to continue studying Korean, so she applied to BYU. Douglas lived at BYU’s Language Immersion Student Residence (LISR) with other students studying Korean, worked as a TA for Korean classes, and studied abroad in Korea. One of her most memorable experiences was hosting Korean students from that same university at BYU. She helped coordinate their visits three years in a row. Douglas says the program helped her make connections both at BYU and in Korea. She’s grateful for the experiences she had as a Korean student, all of which she says pushed her proficiency in the language and deepened her love for the culture.
Douglas planned to return to Korea to teach English after graduating from BYU. But during her final semester, professors Julie Damron and Richard McBride began encouraging her to attend graduate school, and a new possibility came to life. She learned about the Global Korea Scholarship, a fully funded scholarship program offered by the Korean government. Although she had “never really had a desire to go to grad school,” the encouragement of her professors changed her mind. The more she thought about it, the more she liked the idea of furthering her education in Korea. She felt like God had been leading her throughout her studies, and graduate school seemed like the next step in her journey.
A Return to Seoul
The process of applying for the scholarship wasn’t easy. Tens of thousands of prospective students applied, and Douglas underwent multiple rounds of selections. The lengthy application process left her unsure of what her plans would be after she graduated in April 2026. She says the experience required “a lot of trusting in the Lord.” Eventually she received word that she would officially be heading to Ewha Womans University in Seoul, South Korea, for a master’s program fully covered by the scholarship. Her program will focus largely on Korean society and culture.
Douglas says she wouldn’t be where she is today “without the help of amazing professors.” Because of their guidance, she learned what a master’s degree could do for her and built up the courage to apply. Douglas encourages College of Humanities students to build relationships with their professors, who she believes “are such an underutilized resource.” Now, thanks to them and her trust in the Lord, Douglas leaves BYU prepared to take the next step towards her future. She’s heading back to Korea to continue the journey that started long ago.
Learn more about Korean at BYU on the Asian and Near Eastern Languages Department website.