Here's who to expect at this year's fall university festivals

K-campus

Published: 14 Sep. 2023, 17:57 Updated: 15 Sep. 2023, 14:36

Here's who to expect at this year's fall university festivals

PSY performs at the school festival at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies in Dongdaemun District, eastern Seoul. [CHOI YOUNG-JAE]

With the fall semester kicking off, university campuses are bustling with excited students and fall festivals.

University festivals usually come about twice a year in Korea, each in spring and fall. Food trucks, booths set up by the collaborating brands and performances by the school clubs are typical scenes at these events.

However, the essence of Korean school festivals nowadays is seeing celebrities for free or cheap, ranging from K-pop stars to trending indie bands.

This week and the following week are the times the events take place, with many of the guest performers appearing at multiple schools, some of them being singer-songwriter duo AKMU, rock band CNBLUE's vocalist Jung Yong-Hwa, boy band BoyNextDoor and the megahit girl group NewJeans.

Some schools are already nearing the final and the biggest part of their festivals. On the contrary, some schools have not revealed the lineup for their festivals yet, leaving the students hanging.

If you are looking for celebrity lineups at university festivals this season, refer to this list the Korea JoongAng Daily compiled.

Seoul National University

The poster for Seoul National University's fall festival, ″SNUFestival: On the Board″ [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Seoul National University, in Gwanak District in southern Seoul, is known for its mediocre festivals despite its image as Korea's top school.

This year's festival, named “SNUFestival: On the Board,” seeks to dispel that bland image with a series of events with Bestsleep, a mattress brand, and by inviting guest performers such as NewJeans and Jung Yong-hwa. The festival's performances, the finale of the festival that started on Tuesday, are taking place Thursday.

@snufestival

Sungkyunkwan University

The poster for Sungkyunkwan University's fall festival, ″ESKARA: 1398″ [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Sungkyunkwan University began its two-day festival on Wednesday. Named “Eskara: 1398,” the festival is being held at the school's Natural Sciences Campus in Suwon, Gyeonggi. The university's Seoul and Suwon campuses often ran festivals separately, but the students decided to hold an integrated festival this year in commemoration of the 625th anniversary of the school's foundation.

The festival saw singer-songwriter Lee Juck perform on its first day. NewJeans, singer Younha, rapper Beenzino, hip-hop Dynamic Duo and AKMU will perform on the festival's second day on Thursday.

@skku_skkup__nsc

Hongik University

The poster for Hongik University's fall festival, ″HWAYANGYEONHWA: PAGE″ [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Hongik University's fall festival, “Hwayangyeonhwa: Page,” runs from Wednesday to Friday this year on its campus in Mapo District, Western Seoul. Apart from guest performances at the main event zone, the WOW DJ Festival takes place on the school's campus from 7 p.m. to midnight.

Wednesday's lineup included singers Yang Da-il, Navi of WSG Wannabe, SURL, Bibi, Tiger JK and Yoon Mi-rae. Thursday's lineup includes one-person indie band 10cm, YudabinBand and Younha. Friday's lineup includes NewJeans, Jung Yong-hwa, singer Lee Seung Yoon and rapper Lil Boi.

@hiu_student_council

Korea Aerospace University

The artist lineup announcement for Korea Aerospace University's fall festival [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Korea Aerospace University (KAU) in Goyang, Gyeonggi, had to make major changes to its fall festival planning due to a heavy downpour on Wednesday.

The school's fall festival, “Hangdae-ui sup,” meaning KAU forest, started on Wednesday and ends on Thursday. Initially, a series of student and celebrity performances were scheduled to take place on both days.

However, due to the heavy rain on Wednesday, student performances were abruptly canceled. The celebrity performances went as planned, featuring comedian and musician Haha and singer-songwriter Heize.

Singer Woody and Dynamic Duo are scheduled to perform on Thursday. The university's student council also plans to fit canceled student performances into the festival's amended schedule for Thursday.

@kau._.hr

Kyung Hee University

The poster for Kyung Hee University's fall festival, ″MASTERPEACE″ [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Kyung Hee University in Dongdaemun District, eastern Seoul, is holding its fall festival, “Masterpiece,” for two days starting Thursday. The festival's dress code is red, or “Kyung Hee Red,” a burgundy shade.

The celebrities to perform on the festival's first day are rapper Zico, girl group STAYC and BoyNextDoor. The second day's lineup includes NewJeans, Beenzino and AKMU.

@sketch_khu55

Gachon University

The poster for Gachon University's fall festival, ″Muhangado″ [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Gachon University holds its fall festival, “Muhangado,” from Wednesday to Thursday. Of the university's two campuses, the Global Campus in Seongnam, Gyeonggi, and the Medical Campus in Yeonsu District, Incheon. The festival is being held at the Global Campus, the school's primary campus.

STACY, singer Paul Kim and rapper Coogie took the stage on Wednesday. Thursday and Friday's lineups include girl group Oh My Girl, Kim Bo-kyung of girl group NEON, singer Ha Hyun-sang and rapper Leellamarz.

@39th_gc_one

Hankuk University of Foreign Studies

The poster for Hankuk University of Foreign Studies' fall festival, ″QUINQUATRIA″ [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (HUFS) in Dongdaemun District, eastern Seoul, will host its fall festival, “Quinquatria,” for three days, from Tuesday to Sept. 21.

The festival's dress code is “HUFS Green,” a shade of turquoise. Although the university's Global Campus is located in Yongin, Gyeonggi, the festival will be held on the school's Seoul Campus.

The first day of the festival consists of events on the school's campus, and the following two days will feature celebrity performances. On Wednesday, singer-songwriter Jukjae and singer Loco will hit the stage. The festival's final day will see Younha, Zico and BoyNextDoor perform.

@hufsstudent

Soongsil University

The poster for Soongsil University's fall festival, ″Awake!″ [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Soongsil University, in Dongjak District in southern Seoul, will hold its fall festival, “Awake!” from Wednesday to Sept. 22. Paul Kim, rock band YB and STAYC will take the stage on Wednesday, and Leellamarz, rapper Ash Island and Loco will perform the next day. Rock band Jaurim and 10cm will perform on the final day.

@plussu__63rd

Chung-Ang University

The poster for Chung-Ang University Seoul Campus's fall festival, ″Magic Hour″ [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Chung-Ang University has two campuses each in Dongjak District, southern Seoul, and Anseong, Gyeonggi, named Da Vinci Campus. Chung-Ang University is a rare case this year in that its two campuses are holding festivals separately under different names.

The Seoul Campus's fall festival, “Magic Hour,” will run from Monday to Wednesday. While there won't be celebrity performances on Monday, rock bands Daybreak and SORAN will take the stage on Tuesday, and Kim Na-young and Paul Kim will perform on Wednesday.

The poster for Chung-Ang University Da Vinci Campus's fall festival, ″Cautopia″ [SCREEN CAPTURE]

On the other hand, the Da Vinci Campus in Anseong will hold its festival from Tuesday to Sept. 21, starting and finishing a day later than the Seoul Campus. Dubbed “CAUTOPIA,” the campus has not announced the celebrity lineup yet.
Seoul Campus: @cau.festival
Global Campus: @cau.65th.hyeyum

Kangwon National University

The poster for Kangwon National University's fall festival, ″Imagine our afterimage: Jansang″ [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Kangwon National University in Chuncheon, Gangwon, will host its fall festival, “Imagine our afterimage: Jansang,” from Tuesday to Sept. 21. The school has another campus in Samcheok, Gangwon but does not run a separate festival.

Celebrity performances will take place every day of the festival, including singer George and STAYC on the first day and singer Kim Na-young and rapper Giriboy on the second. Ryu Su-jeong from girl group Lovelyz and Bibi will perform on the last day.

@knuch_56

BY KIM DONG-EUN [kim.dongeun@joongang.co.kr]