An international student's perspective on technology, learning beyond the classroom, and the growing importance of semiconductors.
Illustrative technology image. For official event details, use the SEDEX website linked below.
As an Uzbek student living and studying in South Korea, I believe that some of the most valuable learning experiences happen when we step outside the classroom and see how knowledge is used in the real world. I was pleased to receive confirmation that I had been selected for Kangwon National University's group field trip to the 2026 Semiconductor Exhibition (SEDEX) in Seoul. According to the university's email, the programme covers the round-trip charter bus, exhibition admission, and lunch, making it possible for selected students to experience an important technology event without paying those participation costs themselves. For me, this is more than a day trip to Seoul: it is an opportunity to observe an industry that affects the devices we use every day, understand how companies turn research into products, and ask better questions about the future of technology in both Korea and Uzbekistan. The university's message lists the group visit for Thursday, October 15, 2026, with gathering at 08:45 in front of Mirae Hall, departure at 09:00, and an expected return to campus at 18:00. Students selected for the trip should follow the instructions in their own university email and confirm any last-minute details with the organising team.
What exactly is SEDEX?
SEDEX stands for the Semiconductor Exhibition, a major South Korean exhibition organised by the Korea Semiconductor Industry Association (KSIA). The official event website describes a broad industry showcase rather than a display of finished electronic gadgets alone: it covers memory and system chips, integrated-circuit design, sensors, semiconductor manufacturing equipment, inspection and measurement systems, materials, components, factory facilities, and related software. These areas are connected. A semiconductor is not produced by one company doing one simple task; it is the result of a complicated supply chain involving design, specialised materials, precision machinery, manufacturing, testing, packaging, and quality control. An exhibition such as SEDEX allows visitors to see how these parts fit together and how companies present their technologies to customers, engineers, researchers, and potential partners. The official SEDEX website lists the 2026 exhibition at COEX in Seoul from October 14 to 16, with Halls C and D as the exhibition venue. That official public schedule is useful context, while the university's email provides the timetable and transport arrangements for our particular student group. This distinction matters because the exhibition's public opening hours are not the same as the full university trip schedule, which includes travel, gathering, and the return journey to Chuncheon.
Visit the official SEDEX website for event information →
Technology is built by connected teams, tools, components, and systems—not by chips alone.
Why am I going as an Uzbek student?
I am going because studying in Korea gives me a chance to learn directly from the country and its industries, not just from textbooks, lectures, or online videos. As an international student from Uzbekistan, I want to understand how a technology ecosystem works: how specialised companies cooperate, how technical products are demonstrated, how industries communicate their needs, and what kinds of skills are useful in a high-technology workplace. Even if a visitor is not studying semiconductor engineering, the exhibition can still be valuable because modern chips are central to computers, smartphones, data centres, cars, telecommunications, industrial equipment, and artificial-intelligence systems. As someone interested in technology and digital development, I can use the visit to connect broad concepts—hardware, software, manufacturing, testing, and innovation—to the real companies and processes behind them. I also want to practise observing carefully, taking useful notes, asking clear questions, and explaining what I learned to other students afterwards. An educational field trip is not automatically a career opportunity, and attending one does not guarantee employment or a business connection; its value depends on how actively a student prepares, engages, and reflects. My goal is to come back with a more practical understanding of the industry, new vocabulary in English and Korean, and a clearer sense of what I should study next.
Why should semiconductors matter to people in Uzbekistan?
Semiconductors may sound like a distant subject reserved for engineers and large technology companies, but their influence reaches far beyond factories in East Asia. Chips are essential to digital infrastructure, communications equipment, vehicles, consumer electronics, industrial automation, and many of the systems that make modern services possible. Uzbekistan's government has promoted digital transformation through its Digital Uzbekistan – 2030 strategy, which identifies the development and wider adoption of information and communication technologies across areas such as public administration, education, healthcare, and agriculture. In addition, Uzbekistan's national news agency UZA reported in March 2026 on a strategic workshop focused on developing a microelectronics and semiconductor industry strategy for 2026–2035, involving public institutions and industry participants. These sources do not mean that Uzbekistan can immediately reproduce the scale or capabilities of Korea's semiconductor sector; building such an industry requires long-term investment, specialised education, reliable infrastructure, research, international cooperation, and access to global supply chains. However, they show why it is useful for Uzbek students to understand the field now. The country's future opportunities may include software and chip-design services, embedded systems, electronics repair and testing, industrial automation, technical research, supply-chain support, and other adjacent areas, depending on investment and the development of local capabilities. For Uzbek students, learning about semiconductors is therefore not only about manufacturing physical chips; it is about understanding a foundational technology and identifying where our skills could contribute to the wider digital economy.
The semiconductor ecosystem connects engineering, research, software, manufacturing, and international collaboration.
What can students actually learn at an exhibition?
A useful visit is not simply walking past booths and collecting brochures. Before entering the exhibition, I plan to review the official floor plan and exhibitor directory, identify several areas I want to understand, and write down a few questions. For example, I can look for the difference between memory chips and system semiconductors, learn what manufacturing equipment and inspection tools do, and observe how companies explain complex technologies to visitors. I can also pay attention to the range of roles that support the industry: engineers are important, but so are software developers, data specialists, technicians, researchers, sales engineers, project coordinators, and professionals who work across languages and markets. Where conversations are permitted, asking a short and respectful question about a company's technology, the skills it values, or the challenges it is trying to solve may be more useful than collecting a large number of leaflets. I should also respect exhibitor rules, avoid photographing restricted displays, and never treat a brief conversation as permission to share confidential information. After the visit, the most important step will be turning observations into something useful: a short reflection, a list of unfamiliar terms, a comparison of technologies, or a plan for the next skill to learn. This is how a single day can become part of a longer learning process rather than just another event on a calendar.
The visit details: what selected students should know
The university email confirms that the group visit is scheduled for Thursday, October 15, 2026. The message instructs selected students to gather in front of Mirae Hall at Kangwon National University at 08:45, with the chartered bus scheduled to depart at 09:00 for COEX in Seoul. The group is expected to spend the exhibition period between approximately 10:45 and 16:00 visiting the exhibition, having the provided lunch, and completing a simple on-site mission. At 16:00, the group is due to gather at the exit and leave for Chuncheon, with arrival back at the university expected at around 18:00. According to the email, the university covers the round-trip bus, admission ticket, and lunch for selected participants. These are the arrangements stated in the selection email; students should use the original message or contact the organising team if they need clarification, because transport details and group instructions can change. The email also set a cancellation deadline of October 7, 2026, at 15:00 KST and warned that late cancellation or a no-show could lead to restrictions on participation in future programmes run by the International Cooperation Team. Since that deadline has passed, anyone who now has an unexpected problem should contact the university team directly rather than assume that the original cancellation procedure is still available.
How to prepare for SEDEX 2026
Preparation does not have to be complicated, but it should be intentional. First, check the official event website for the latest visitor information, floor plan, exhibitor directory, and programme; the university group email remains the primary source for the student bus and meeting arrangements. Second, decide what you want to learn before arriving. A student interested in software might focus on embedded systems, chip-design tools, or how hardware supports AI and computing, while someone interested in business might pay more attention to supply chains, industrial partnerships, and how companies explain their products. Third, bring a charged phone, a notebook or note-taking app, comfortable shoes, and any student identification required by the organisers. Fourth, prepare two or three specific questions and be ready to listen carefully; a clear question is often more productive than trying to understand every technical detail at once. Finally, after returning to campus, write down the most important things you learned while the experience is still fresh. If you are an international student, you can also practise explaining the experience in English, Korean, Uzbek, or another language you use, because translating technical ideas into clear language is itself a valuable skill. The objective is not to pretend to be an expert after one visit; it is to leave with better questions, a broader view of the industry, and a more informed idea of what to explore next.
Useful official links
- SEDEX 2026 — official exhibition website — event overview, news, and visitor information.
- SEDEX visitor registration and admission information — check current registration rules and entry details.
- SEDEX exhibition products and technology areas — overview of devices, equipment, facilities, materials, components, and software.
- COEX official exhibition listing for SEDEX 2026 — venue listing, public exhibition dates, and visitor information.
- Uzbekistan: Digital Technologies and Digital Uzbekistan – 2030 — official government information about the country's digital-development agenda.
- UZA: Agreement on developing Uzbekistan's microelectronics industry — report on the 2026–2035 semiconductor and microelectronics strategy workshop.
Final thoughts: learning in Korea, thinking about Uzbekistan
For me, being selected for the SEDEX field trip is a reminder that studying abroad can offer opportunities to connect academic life with the industries shaping the world. Korea's semiconductor ecosystem is a valuable place to observe how advanced technology, specialised knowledge, and cooperation across companies come together. As an Uzbek student, I do not need to claim that one exhibition will change my future or that Uzbekistan must follow exactly the same path as Korea. What I can do is learn from what I see, ask thoughtful questions, and consider how technical knowledge and international experience might be useful in my own country. Uzbekistan's digital transformation and reported interest in developing microelectronics make this a relevant subject to understand, even for students whose main interests are software, business, or broader technology. The most important outcome will not be the photographs I take or the brochures I bring home, but the knowledge I retain and the actions I take afterwards. I hope to return from Seoul with a clearer understanding of semiconductors, a stronger appreciation of Korea's technology industry, and ideas that I can share with other Uzbek students who are also building their futures between different cultures and opportunities.
Editorial note
The university email describes the selected student group's trip as October 15, 2026, while the official SEDEX website lists the public exhibition for October 14–16, 2026. The article distinguishes the university's group itinerary from the exhibition's public dates. The trip details above are based on the email supplied by the author; broader event and Uzbekistan context are linked to official event, venue, and government sources. The illustrative images are not official SEDEX photographs.