It’s that time of the year, Yonseians! This Friday marks Yonsei University’s annual Akaraka pep rally, an all-day event that includes cheering, dancing, and singing to an assortment of Korean and Engrish music. It’s similar to 영고전, the end of year sports rally with our rival school Koryo University, just without the sports…or Koryo. Spring is actually the beginning of the academic year for Korean students so I guess you can call this the official kick-off to school event.
So you may or may not know, but Korean students love to cheer. And I really mean that. Akaraka is a huge thing here, filled with week-long events of drinking, gathering, playing games, and even more drinking. Today I spent the day around campus where there were performances taking place all around, food vendors, and several ajummas and ajusshis getting there drink on. Let’s call it a preview for what’s to come Friday.
Yoo-won and Brian reenacting the Korean War
This was cute. Ever play those arcade games where the alligator or groundhog popped out of the hole and you had to hit it with a hammer? Yeah, think that but with cute Korean boys.
너무 싸지?
Oh, and this was my favorite performance of the day, 사물놀이 (Samul-nori, “sa-mul” for four instruments). I love traditional music and dance and this was just entertaining. I want to learn to play the 장구 so bad!
It's Shu!! : )
And finally, guess who we found selling pastries and other goodies at one of the booths? Famous Korean actress, Park Jin-hee of Love in Magic and Since We Met! She’s so pretty in person and super thin too! I felt so Korean being so star-struck, and my friend Jin-suk was willing to buy bread just to get a picture.
박진희
Oh dear, what am I going to do with myself when Super Junior comes to Yonsei Friday…
This looks fun! And that actress is really pretty!!