Chuncheon National University of Education, Songgok University and others cheer alongside Sandara Park, cheerleading squads

A cheerleading squad's dynamic performance lifts the mood at the five-university joint festival in Chuncheon.
A cheerleading squad's dynamic performance lifts the mood at the five-university joint festival in Chuncheon.
The Gongjicheon Jazz Festival, pictured in October last year.
The Gongjicheon Jazz Festival, pictured in October last year.

Chuncheon carries the character for "spring" in its name — fitting, since the city has long been a hub of youth.

Even before Namiseom island's television drama "Winter Sonata" put the region on the map, countless young people from across the country flocked to Chuncheon's Gongji Stream and Gangchon area. They created hundreds of millions of memories there. For generations of young Koreans, Chuncheon was the one place they could truly let loose.

There, students from five universities pursuing their own youthful dreams showed off the city's reputation as a mecca for young people at their joint festival, "Pieobom: Rae" — a name blending the Korean words for "blooming" and "spring."

The festival, which opened Thursday on the Hallym Polytechnic University campus, buzzed with energy from the morning as students cheered on inter-university sports matches and a League of Legends tournament. In the soccer, basketball and dodgeball finals, athletes representing their schools and their cheering squads shared in the excitement together.

Professors join in the festival spirit.
Professors join in the festival spirit.
Chuncheon university students throw themselves into the festival.
Chuncheon university students throw themselves into the festival.

Experience booths set up around the venue also drew students and residents. University clubs offered tarot readings, an aromatherapy workshop, constellation keyring-making and beauty experiences, while international students shared their cultures through traditional costume and craft activities and language-exchange programs.

The evening's main event opened with a joint parade of the five universities, led by Chuncheon National University of Education's pungmul (traditional percussion) club.

As delegations from the five universities entered the venue carrying their school flags, students erupted in cheers. The mood built further with a cheerleading performance jointly prepared by students from Kangwon National University, Hallym University, Chuncheon National University of Education and Hallym Polytechnic University.

The program then moved to an awards ceremony for the sports competitions and e-sports tournament, band and dance performances by nine student clubs, and audience-participation segments.

Among the evening's K-pop guests, Sandara Park — dubbed "the goddess of the Philippines" — and rapper Nucksal took the stage for special performances, drawing cheers from the young crowd.

Chuncheon's mayor rediscovers that old smile at the youth festival.
Chuncheon's mayor rediscovers that old smile at the youth festival.

Students from Kangwon National University, Songgok University, Chuncheon National University of Education, Hallym University and Hallym Polytechnic University organized this year's festival jointly. Beyond the student councils, the federation of student clubs and university student affairs offices also took part in planning and running the event, broadening student exchange and participation.

Chuncheon Mayor Yuk Dong-han said, "I support your youth, your passion and your love for Chuncheon," adding, "The flowers blooming here tonight are all of you."


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