Campus Spirit in Full Bloom
Last May, one of Sungkyunkwan University’s (SKKU) festivals, Daedongje, successfully ended with enthusiastic cheers from its students. It was held across both campuses, from May 8th to 9th on the Humanities and Social Sciences Campus (HSSC), and from May 15th to 16th on the Natural Sciences Campus (NSC). This year, the HSSC had the slogan,Yuram, which encapsulates the moment where an individual’s light sways freely, while the NSC selected Poongyeonhwa, which symbolizes a flower blooming from scattered connections in the wind. Among the various events held during the festival, the 57th student council S:CATCH organized the sale of special merchandise, including sports uniforms and festival-themed patches. Famous brands such as the note-taking application, Goodnotes, and the energy drink brand, Monster, also visited the campus and attracted excited participants by offering interactive games and giveaways. During the daytime, various student-led booths and band performances filled the atmosphere with cheers. Once the sun set, the festival continued with lively performances by famous artists. On the HSSC, artists such as YB, IVE, Jannabi, and PSY lit up the stage, while at the NSC, performances of VIVIZ, 10cm, and Crush further elevated the atmosphere. As always, Daedongje brought students from both campuses together to create opportunities for unforgettable memories.
After the Applause
Following the end of the festival, sentiments from Kingos were generally positive. On the second day of both the HSSC and NSC festivals, heavy rain persisted the whole day, which made it challenging for students to fully enjoy the booths and performances. However, S:CATCH responded swiftly by posting safety-related announcements, installing shelters over the stage area, and providing raincoats to all SKKU students and staff, which helped prevent major disruptions. Meanwhile, although the stage performances were carried out without major incidents, opinions were mixed when it came to the differences in artist lineups at each campus. Several Kingos mentioned that although the HSSC hosted prominent artists, they felt the lineup for the NSC lacked similar recognition. A student from the NSC spoke to the SKT, “The festival was enjoyable, but since many of the songs were not very familiar, it was harder to fully enjoy the atmosphere.” This sparked conversations about ensuring balanced opportunities for engagement across both campuses, which is beyond simply artist popularity. While there is still some room for improvement, many students walked away with positive memories, making this year’s Daedongje a valuable memory for everyone.