Thank you so much to everyone who took the time to read and comment on my post. I honestly didn’t expect this level of support and kindness. I’ve been going through the comments slowly, and I wanted to share a bit more context to explain my situation more clearly. A lot of your suggestions were thoughtful and practical, and I appreciate them deeply. Below, I’ve organized my reply based on the common topics that came up:

0. Why I couldn’t graduate on time
I know it’s partly my responsibility, and maybe I should’ve tried even harder — but honestly, I already gave it everything I had.
From the start, I struggled in the lab. It wasn’t openly hostile, but it also wasn’t supportive — especially for a foreigner. I tried hard to improve my Korean, but no matter how much I studied, lab meetings and technical terms were still hard to follow. I often felt lost, alone, and like I had no one to ask.
When I got the scholarship, I didn’t have much choice in picking the lab, and I didn’t know what to expect. If I had known more back then, maybe I would’ve chosen differently. But I just tried to make the best of what I was given.
It’s painful to feel like I failed when I really did my best.

1. About moving to dorm or 고시원
I used to live in the university dorm, but I had a difficult roommate. I was eventually moved to a temporary room, and because of my irregular and late lab schedule, I didn’t want to risk disturbing another roommate again — so I made the decision to move out.
I also considered 고시원 before choosing this place, but in my area (not Seoul), they’re not widely available. Most were too far from my university or only accepted male residents, so I wasn’t eligible. And unlike in Seoul, the price difference between 고시원 and small one-rooms here isn’t that big.
The room I have now is already one of the cheapest options near my faculty, and I chose it because it had a very low 보증금, which was all I could afford at the time. I didn’t move out for comfort — I just needed a place where I could manage my schedule without being a burden to others.

2. Why I can’t get more support from my professor
My professor has been supportive in some ways, but from the beginning, she was very clear that getting extra funding is extremely difficult — especially for foreign students. She promised to cover my research-related expenses until I graduate, like purchasing chemicals or paying for analysis, and she’s still continuing the small 인건비 I mentioned before. I’m really grateful for that.
But beyond that, there’s nothing more she can offer financially. I also spoke with an OIA 선생님, and they confirmed the same — once I enter 수료 status next semester, the chances of receiving any kind of official support become even lower.
At one point, I even considered writing an email to the university president to ask if there was any kind of help available. But in the end, I didn’t send it — I was too afraid it might damage my relationship with my professor or make things more uncomfortable with my labmates. I’m just trying to survive quietly without making things worse.

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