u/MionMikanCider

Hi all, we have had one of the winners of GKS-G 2026 from Poland reach out with us to share their personal statement and study plan. The Personal Statetment Megathread has now been updated with their essays. If you need an idea of what a winning statement looks like in 2026, please check it out! Remember, advice on how to write your personal statement applies to both GKS-G and GKS-U, so for all the GKS-U aspirants right now, please use the GKS-G statements as an example of what a good essay looks like.

Thank you again to this scholar for reaching out and sharing their story! You can find a link to the megathread here or at the top of the subreddit in the highlighted threads:

Sample Personal Statement & Study Plan Megathread

If you are a former or current GKS scholar and would like to share your personal statement or study plan, please reach out to a moderator! We are always happy to receive more successful essays and show applicants world wide what a winning GKS essay looks like. All personal statements are edited by our Mod Team to redact personally identifiable information before being published, so you don't need to worry about your personal information being leaked.

For more help on how to write your personal statements, you can also check out our guide on how to write a winning GKS essay here:

How to write an Impactful Personal Statement for GKS

Good luck everyone!

This is a megathread for all the application materials for both GKS-G and GKS-U. Application materials from previous years will be linked here to help future applicants learn about the GKS guidelines as well as research about the universities offered via GKS. Current year application materials will also be posted here as well.

GKS-G 2026 application materials (for reference only)

GKS-U 2026 application materials (for reference only)

Greetings GKS-G 2026 scholars! No doubt all have you have received your official notices of acceptance to GKS by now and and are preparing for the exciting move to Korea. As such, knowing what to pack and what not to pack is going to make organizing your luggage and your transition to Korean life a lot easier. If you are a current or former scholar, feel free to chime in and share your own advice about what to pack and what not to pack!

In my experience, here are some key things to remember to bring.

Do Bring:

1. Wall plugs/travel chargers that allow your laptop to be compatible with Korean outlets.

If you're a mac user, this is easier as you can buy a charging brick in Korea at Apple or Apple reseller stores that will allow you to plug into Korean outlets. However, for PC users, make sure you buy a travel charger BEFORE you come to Korea, as you won't be able to find travel chargers inside most brick and mortar stores in Korea (Lotte mart, E-mart, etc.). Once you get access to online shopping, you can buy it online, but it might be months before that happens. If your PC uses a charging brick, you can also just buy a local power cord that fits into the three prong outlet of your charging brick. It looks like this:

https://preview.redd.it/fu53xpxcq7dh1.png?width=440&format=png&auto=webp&s=4bb3c5498fd70e75d7e5c25d006f349b2c4e444d

2. Feminine Hygiene products

Pads are still the most popular form of feminine hygiene products. Korea now has a variety of tampon brands too but if you have a preferred tampon brand, best to bring it from home

3. Roll on/Stick deodorant

Korea has a very limited selection of Roll on/Stick deodorants so if you use this kind of product, make sure to bring some from home

Don't bring:

1. Lots of heavy winter clothing

Korean winters are definitely cold and you will need winter clothes, but don't take up valuable suitcase space trying to pack lots of winter clothes unless you absolutely need to. It's better to buy your winter clothes once you get here as there are many affordable brands and options. A long padding coat can be found from 50k-100k from places like SPAO, UNIQLO, or TOP TEN. Likewise, thermal underwear, jackets, and rain/snow shoes can also be found at relatively affordable prices locally as well.

Recently came across the customs broker profession for the first time, and the more I read about it, the more fascinated I am. I’m hoping to get some insight from those of you who have been in the industry for a while, especially anyone with international experience.

A bit about my background: I currently work in a supply chain role within the manufacturing sector. Lately, I’ve been thinking about pivoting more toward the logistics and compliance side of things. a couple of google searches later and the CBL popped up.

I have a deep interest in global trade, specifically the trade lanes between the US and Asia. I’ve actually lived in the Asia-Pacific region before, and my long-term goal is to find a way to return there to live and work.

I’m trying to figure out how a US broker license translates to working abroad. Specifically, are there expat opportunities in Asia? Do US-based companies or multinational freight forwarders hire LCBs to work overseas in places like Singapore, South Korea, Vietnam, etc., as consultants or managers overseeing US-bound shipments?

Visa Sponsorship**:** Is this a niche enough skill set that companies are willing to sponsor visas for expats, or do they almost exclusively hire local nationals for regional compliance

Origin-side Management: If you are a US LCB working in Asia, what does your day-to-day look like? Are you mostly focused on trade compliance, supply chain security (like CTPAT), or vendor management?

I would love to hear anyone’s experiences, advice, or reality checks on this matter. If you've managed to successfully take your US compliance background abroad, how did you do it?