From IVE in Incheon to PSY in Seoul, catch K-pop stars at these 11 university spring festivals

K-campus

Published: 03 May. 2024, 19:54 Updated: 07 May. 2024, 14:38

From IVE in Incheon to PSY in Seoul, catch K-pop stars at these 11 university spring festivals

Singer PSY performs at the spring festival at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies Global Campus in Yongin, Gyeonggi. Daedongje, or university spring festivals, are the biggest events of the year for universities in Korea. [JOONGANG ILBO]

Spring university festivals, or daedongje, are undoubtedly the talk of the month in May for college students. Universities splurge to secure celebrity performances during the festival nights, student clubs spend days practicing to audition for the chance to go onstage and netizens debate who will be the hidden performers.

Behind the scenes, student councils, who organize the grand event, hustle to secure the budget and sponsorships for booth management and promotion costs.

Many schools are yet to disclose the celebrity lineup and booth details since there are still a few weeks left until the event, while some schools have been garnering anticipation due to an unexpected guest.

If you are willing to join the fun, here is a list of 11 university festivals that will light up the campuses this month in Korea.

Seoul National University

A poster of Seoul National University's spring festival, ″DAY OFF″ [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Seoul National University in Gwanak District, southern Seoul, is running its spring festival from May 7 until May 9. Named "SNUFestival: DAYOFF," the festival invites YudabinBand on the first day of the event, while mostly focusing on introducing student clubs to the stage. The opening day is about vocals and bands, while the following day's theme is focused on hip-hop and dance performances.

@snufestival

Korea University

Students and visitors enjoy the spring festival at Korea University in Seongbuk District, northern Seoul. [JOONGANG ILBO]

Korea University in Seongbuk District, northern Seoul, holds two major festivals every spring, each named Seoktap Daedongje and Ipselenti. The latter is more well-known as the school's cheerleading student council which heavily invests in the event, securing celebrity performances and limiting entrance to only its students and alumni. Seoktap Daedongjae stays open for all, as with the rest of the universities in Korea, and will take place from May 21 to 23.

The name of this year's Seoktap Daedongje is "Kutopia," a mix of Korea University and utopia.

The student council has announced that the list of the artists for this year's daedongje will be kept secret until the day of the event for safety issues. The school ran a survey among students on their most preferred artists who performed in 2022 or 2023, and successfully managed to invite two of the top three artists most preferred by the students.

@ku.festival

Yonsei University

A poster of Yonsei University's spring festival, ″h:OURS.″ The event runs separately from the well-known university festival ″Akaraka,″ which is exclusively for Yonsei students and alumni. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Yonsei University, a famous competitor of Korea University on both academics and festivals, similarly runs two major spring festivals, named Muak Daedongje and Akaraka. While the latter is a more recognized event, also exclusively open for Yonsei students and alumni, Muak Daedongje welcomes all visitors to campus.

This year the daedongje is named "h:OURS," and will run from May 28 until 31. The festival on May 29 will take place on the global campus in Songdo, Incheon, while the Sinchon campus in Seodaemun District, western Seoul, will host the last two days' events.

This year's Akaraka is facing a major change, as the festival runs for two days from May 25 to 26. The first day limits the participants to Yonsei University undergraduates, but the following day makes amends by being open to graduate students and alumni.

The lineup for the Akaraka festival on May 26 has already been revealed and includes singer Kwon Eun-bi, ballad duo MeloMance, girl groups IVE and ITZY, boy bands Ateez and Riize, singers Rain, Park Jin-young and PSY and rapper Zico.

@yonsei_studentcouncil
@akaraka_yonsei

Hanyang University

A still-cut from the promotion video of Hanyang University's spring festival, ″Rachios″ [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Hanyang University in Seongdong District, eastern Seoul, hosts its annual spring festival, "Rachios," from May 22 to 24, while Hanyang University Erica campus in Ansan, Gyeonggi, runs a separate festival on its campus starting four days later on May 28. The event lasts three days until May 30. Specifics on the celebrity lineup have not been announced yet.

@hy_stu

Ewha Womans University

A poster of Ewha Woman University's spring festival, ″Liber Ewha″ [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Ewha Womans University in Seodaemun District, western Seoul, is hosting this year's spring festival, "Liber Ewha," for three days starting May 8. For three days, the campus runs various events including movie nights and a traditional version of tug-of-war. Booths, artist performances and events will take place throughout the festival.

@ewha_studentcouncil56

Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (HUFS)

A screen capture of the official post of Hankuk University of Foreign Studies' spring festival, ″Bloom.″

Hankuk University of Foreign Studies in Dongdaemun District, eastern Seoul, runs the spring festival "Bloom" from May 8 to 9 and was one of the first few universities to disclose the celebrity lineup this year. Attention bubbled up toward the festival once the student council announced, via social media, that K-pop girl group ILLIT and PSY are visiting the campus on the second day of the event. The student council added blue as the dress code this year and will provide free snacks for the students who turn up at booths in the addressed color.

@hufs_festival

Incheon National University

A screen capture of the post on Incheon National University's official media account about the spring festival. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Incheon National University in Songdo, Incheon, runs the spring festival, "UN_ION: UNI-LAND," from May 7 until 9 and is one of the few schools with an open artist lineup so far. Girl group H1-KEY and IVE, singer An Shinae and boy band Cravity are the guests on the opening day of the spring festival, while Chang Ki-ha, rock band YB and Car, the garden will take the stage the following day. pH-1, Woodie Gochild, BIG Naughty, Chungha, and Jay Park will perform on the last day of the festival.

@41inu_unity

Pusan National University

Pusan National University in Geumjeong District, Busan, runs this year's spring festival from May 28 until 30. Last year, the school had been at the center of attention for its guest, trot singer Kim Yeon-ja, whose involvement was questioned given the traditional singing style that does not go with the usual festival's theme of inviting K-pop singers, but quickly resurfaced on media as memes after she gained positive reactions and praises for her stage manners.

This year, the school newspaper Channel PNU announced that the budget was doubled from last year's plan and noted that for the first time the festival would be jointly hosted by the undergraduates and graduate students.

@pnu_pnew

Jeonbuk National University

A screen capture of the post on Jeonbuk National University's official media account about the spring festival. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Jeonbuk National University in North Jeolla will hold the annual spring festival, "Cheong-chun," meaning youth, from May 8 until 10. On day one, Jannabi will perform, DAY6 on day two, and the last day will have the most artists, as singer-rapper Changmo, Ash Island and PSY will hit the stage. The final artist will soon be announced on social media on Friday.

@jbnu_ch

Chung Cheong University

A poster of Chung Cheong University's spring festival, ″Wolgang Culture Festival.″ [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Chung Cheong University in Cheongju, North Chungcheong, begins the "Wolgang Culture Festival" on May 8 and runs until the next day. The school aims to attract university students and residents to join the event and will run a singing contest on the evening of the second day. One-man band 10cm and rapper Mirani will perform on the same day.

@chung.cheong.univ

Hansei University

Girl group Viviz [BIG PLANET MADE]

Hansei University in Gunpo, Gyeonggi, is one of the many universities that start the spring festival on May 7. After announcing the festival would run for two days, the school has also unveiled the list of artists who will take to the stage. As the university is an Evangelical Christian school, Hansei University's festival introduces a Christian band named Band 1225, later being joined by girl group Viviz on the first day. The final day's performing guests are YouTuber Heon Seo and rapper BewhY.

@hanseiuniv

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