From Cleveland to Seoul: Inside CWRU’s Study Abroad–Alumni Connections Program

When Case Western Reserve University alum Eric Park (CWR '17) volunteered to mentor political science major Ryan Eckrote in Seoul, South Korea, neither anticipated the impact of the pairing. Connected through CWRU’s Study Abroad–Alumni Connections program, the pairing naturally grew into more than a routine advising relationship—proving just how far the Spartan network extends.

“Wherever you end up—Seoul Cleveland, or somewhere neither of us has been yet—you'll always be a Spartan,” Park advised Eckrote.

Park saw the opportunity as a way to reconnect with his alma mater and pay forward the support he received as someone living in a new country. Eckrote, meanwhile, gained a trusted guide as he adjusted to a new country and a foreign culture.

Drawn to South Korea’s geopolitical significance and recent democratic history, Eckrote arrived at Yonsei University seeking specialized courses in Korean politics. Outside class, he immersed himself in the capital’s culture—visiting historic palaces, exploring art museums and hiking up Bukhansan mountain. 

To help navigate academic stress and daily life in a foreign country, Eckrote was paired with Park through CWRU’s Study Abroad–Alumni Connections program.

Finding common ground across borders

The pairing was natural from the start. Park, who double-majored in psychology and sociology at CWRU, now works in global business development for Xitst, an AI-driven healthcare venture in Seoul. Having moved to the U.S. as a teenager before returning to Korea, Park understood the disorientation of stepping into an unfamiliar culture.

Eckrote brought his own perspective, having spent part of his childhood in Poland before moving back to the United States.

"Watching the same currents move through two very different societies, just on slightly different timelines, gave me a way of understanding my own country that I couldn't have arrived at alone," said Park.

Park also became an approachable guide for daily life and cultural nuances.

“While it might sound simple, the most valuable piece of advice Eric gave me was to get out of my comfort zone and try to overcome my anxieties," said Eckrote. “He helped me understand that I was bound to make mistakes but that people would almost always be helpful. Without his advice, I don’t think that I would have been able to experience Korean culture on such a deep and personal level.”

Tending to the roots

For Park, the decision to serve as a mentor was rooted in a personal philosophy.

"There's a sentiment in Korea that when life finally steadies—when you've found some measure of success—you don't forget where you came from; you go back and tend to your roots," Park said. "For a while, 'going back to my roots' lived in my mind as a single image—returning to Case Western Reserve someday with my wife. But the distance between Cleveland and Seoul makes that harder than it sounds. Here was a way to come home to Case Western Reserve that didn't depend on a plane ticket."

Park credits CWRU with instilling a lifelong appreciation for learning. Mentoring Eckrote offered a way to pass that same awakening forward while breaking up the quiet monotony of a mid-career routine. Watching Eckrote adapt to local customs—from table scissors to mastering chopsticks—reminded Park of the value of staying open and curious.

A bond that spans distance

The mentorship left a lasting impression on both Spartans, fundamentally expanding how Eckrote views his path forward.

"After meeting Eric and talking with him about his experiences post-university, my understanding of my own opportunities expanded," Eckrote shared. "Most importantly, Eric helped me to learn to balance the obligations I face both as a student and an adult—building interpersonal relationships, learning more about various cultures, and not feeling guilty about pursuing what makes me happiest."

Park hopes that spirit of support will continue long after the semester abroad has ended.

"Years from now, when life has steadied, and you've built something of your own, I hope you'll be the one on the other side of this—sitting across from some wide-eyed student stepping into a country that isn't theirs yet, passing forward exactly what was once passed to you,” Park said to Eckrote.