제 22 호 2024 Sangmyung University Festival: “Operation Name Youth!”
Kicker: SM NEWS
2024 Sangmyung University Festival: “Operation Name Youth!”
By Min-Ju Kim, Cub-reporter/ Ga-On Baek, Cub-reporter
rlaalswn029@naver.com/ 202411241@sangmyung.kr
Sangmyung University Seoul Campus 2024 Central Steering Committee held a festival called “Operation Name Youth!” for a total of three days from May 22nd Wednesday to May 24th Friday. Unlike last year’s festival, which lasted for two days, this year’s festival made students’ expectations higher due to a day extension. In students’ repetitive and busy lives, Daedongjae made students become one big community and enjoy all together without anyone being left out. The dress code was green like sprouts in the hope that the school would look like a big meadow; therefore, many students were seen wearing green with matching accessories. The majority of students bought food from food trucks, participated in events and games, and, last but not least, enjoyed various club performances during the day. At night, they went to the tennis court where the main stage was located and enjoyed exciting performances, and their passion lasted until midnight.
2024 Daedongjae Poster, Instagram: @sangmyung_uni
Clubs and Entertainers’ Performances
On the first day, the festival began with performances of clubs at the vacant lot behind the deer statue and small stage (SMU Square). Although there were no celebrity performances scheduled, many students gathered to watch the stage together, and their expectations were raised further for the rest of the festival. On the second day, Yaenol, Auheung, Tornado, the Student Council of Convergence Engineering, Just, and Baltik performed at the same place as on the first day. Prie, Groovin’ 187, Yaenol, Mirae Education-dance, and Jaha Music Festival performed on the main stage, and invited entertainers, EPEX and Younha, performed after the school club performances. On the last day, there were no performances at other venues except for, the main stage. Performances of invited entertainers, Choi YuRee, Han Yohan, and STAYC were held at the end of the Sound Village Performance. The invited entertainer’s vocal and stage presence filled the area with students’ cheers and fiery passion. Each entertainer’s performance ended within an hour, and their performances made students all join together and enjoy the moment.
Singer Younha on the second day, Instagram: @sangmyung_uni
Events and Food
The event booths were operated diversely, from the Central Operations Committee’s Life 4 Snapshots booth, where attendees could capture memories of the festival with photographs, to booths representing each college’s central clubs. The College of Education sold various foods, such as hwachae, tornado potatoes, skewers, and cocktails, at booth number 17, located at the entrance of the College of Education building’s second floor. Meanwhile, the College of Convergence Engineering offered sausages, lemonade, and misugaru at the second booth on the right side of the path leading to the Academic Information Center/Millennium Hall parking lot. The College of Business Administration sold fried jjondegui with various seasonings behind Millenium Hall and held various events, such as dart games, throughout the campus. The College of Humanities and Social Sciences held face painting at the Jahagwan, while the College of Culture and Arts held caricature drawing, a flea market, and sold green bandanas for those who didn’t have a green item at the Art Management building. Additionally, they sold Chinese cuisine, fried chicken with coke, and more. Furthermore, a variety of food trucks came to the campus, offering delicacies like bulgogi sushi, churros, black pork rice bowls, and sundae-gopchang stir-fry, enriching the culinary experience.
Booths located along the path to the College of Business and Economic, Instagram: @sangmyung_uni
Interviews
A member of the Student Council Yoona Kang who organized the festival said that when selecting the festival program, they tried to plan the festival as an activity that students could participate in and also played games to make profits. It was also regrettable that there were fewer students volunteering for the festival, but it was better because there were rewards, such as having a dinner among the students who controlled the event if they earned a profit.A professor at the College of Culture and Arts Hee-eun Yang said that it is very meaningful to participate in the festival because it is a romance that can only be enjoyed for a few days a year and four years in college. In addition, she said that festivals play a big role in forming a university culture and not only eating delicious food and seeing and enjoying celebrities with friends, but also planning, leading, and attracting people to the festival because she thinks that such efforts are helpful for social life. As the years go by after COVID-19, the festival becomes more organized through various experiences, and each school seems to be in a competitive direction.
The university festival offers various benefits to students. First, the festival offers opportunities for students from various departments and grades to get together and interact with each other. This allows them to make new friends and expand their networking. In addition, it provides them with the opportunity to have a good time away from their studies or other stressors, so that they can take a mental break.The festival also offers opportunities to have various experiences through various performances, exhibitions, and food. In addition, in the process of preparing for the festival, students can show their creativity in various fields such as planning, design, marketing, and opportunities to contribute to society through volunteer work are also provided. This makes students feel socially responsible and has a positive effect. Lastly, the festival is an important event that strengthens a sense of belonging and pride in our school. This can increase the satisfaction and attachment to school life.
With these advantages, university festivals play an important role beyond just enjoyment and contribute greatly to the overall growth and development of students.
