So a professor replied to your cold email. Congratulations — that alone puts you ahead of most applicants, since a huge share of emails never get a response at all. But a reply is not an offer. The next step is almost always a short video interview, and how you handle it decides whether you get a funded seat in the lab.

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1. What the Interview Actually Looks Like

Most first interviews with Korean professors are informal compared to a Western academic interview:

• Platform: Usually Zoom or Google Meet, occasionally KakaoTalk video for a quick chat.
• Length: 20–40 minutes.
• Who’s in the room: Sometimes it’s just the professor. Sometimes a senior PhD student or lab manager joins to ask technical questions while the professor observes.
• Format: Conversational, not a rigid Q&A. Expect it to jump between your background, the lab’s current projects, and logistics (intake date, visa, funding).

Don’t expect a whiteboard coding test or a formal thesis defense. The goal for the professor is simple: can this person do useful work in my lab, and will they actually show up next semester?

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2. Questions Professors Actually Ask

• “Walk me through your undergraduate thesis or final-year project.”
• “Why our lab specifically, and not another one working on similar topics?”
• “What tools/languages have you used — Python, PyTorch, MATLAB, CAD, etc.?”
• “Do you have any papers, even a poster or workshop paper?”
• “When can you start — Spring or Fall intake?”
• “Are you talking to other labs or professors right now?”

That last question is not a trap. Professors ask it because RA funding is limited and they want to know how quickly they need to decide. Being honest (“I’ve emailed a few labs, but yours is my top choice because of X”) tends to work in your favor.

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3. How to Prepare

• Re-read 2–3 of their recent papers the night before. Be ready to say one specific thing you found interesting about each.
• Prepare a 2-minute summary of your thesis/project — what problem it solved, what you personally did, and what the result was.
• Have your own questions ready (see below). Professors notice when an applicant asks nothing back.
• Test your camera, mic, and internet ahead of time — video call issues make a worse impression than people think.

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4. Questions You Should Ask Them

This interview goes both ways. Before you accept a lab, get clear on:

• Is the funding full tuition waiver + monthly stipend, or tuition-only?
• What is the monthly stipend amount, and is it guaranteed for the full degree or year-by-year?
• What are the expected weekly hours as an RA?
• Will they sponsor the visa documents (Certificate of Admission) once you’re accepted?
• How many other students are currently in the lab, and is there space for a new one this intake?

If a professor gets vague or dodges these, that’s worth noting — not necessarily a dealbreaker, but a signal to ask more before committing.

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5. After the Call

Send a short thank-you email within 24 hours. Two or three sentences is enough: thank them for their time, restate your interest in one line, and mention you’re happy to send any additional materials (transcript, recommendation letters, portfolio). It costs you five minutes and keeps you top of mind while they’re deciding between candidates.