From May 13 to May 15, Seoul National University held its spring semester festival, Spring-kle, organized by “Chukjehaneun Saramdeul(축제하는 사람들)”, the festival planning committee under the SNU Student Council. The event took place over three days across the Central Lawn and Beodeulgol area of the campus. The spring semester festival featured a wide range of interactive programs. Highlights included mini-game booths operated by the organizing committee, as well as “Marketplace: Season-ing” and art booths that were planned and managed directly by student participants. Group events such as “Squid-Peanut Game” and the quirky camping-themed “What is Camp-ning?” added to the festive atmosphere and boosted student engagement. In addition to the hands-on experiences, a rich lineup of performances captured attention throughout the festival, including the “Shaound of Music” stage, busking sessions under the name “Busker-y”, and a vibrant closing ceremony.
The Central Lawn bustling with activity during the Spring-kle festival
Laughter, Movement, and Rest: A Festival Full of Color
Over the course of three days, the Central Lawn buzzed with energy as students played mini-games, browsed snack booths at the “Marketplace: Season-ing,” explored art displays, and embraced the lively spirit of the spring festival Spring-kle. The mini-games, inspired by ice cream flavors, offered unique and engaging experiences—students crafted beaded keychains at “Beads Beads Strawbeads,” played soccer-bingo in “Almond Bang Bang,” navigated obstacles to win candies in “Candy in Wonderland,” and decorated cupcakes at “Cherry On Top?” Those who collected badges through game participation could win prizes at the “Badge Moourio” booth.
On the second day, a survival-style group event titled “Squid-Peanut Game,” inspired by a popular TV drama, unfolded with tug-of-war and stepping-stone matches, drawing loud cheers and laughter from the crowd. Roaming the festival grounds was Rio, the official SNU mascot, lighting up the atmosphere. “I’m in charge of being cute—everyone comes to see me!” Rio joked, drawing giggles from students eager to snap a picture. That evening, the “What is Camp-ning?” program offered a moment of calm, as students relaxed on picnic mats and inside cozy tents, watching the sunset and enjoying a live campfire playlist. Student Baek Han-gyeol (Nursing, Class of ’25) shared, “I really enjoyed the food and activities with my friends. I’m especially looking forward to the closing concert—LUCY is one of my favorite bands.” With laughter, movement, and moments of rest, Spring-kle brought a burst of warmth and connection to campus life.
Group Game: Squid-Peanut Game
Camping: What is Camp-ning?” held on the Central Lawn
Rio, the festival mascot
Passion on Stage, Resonance Across Campus
Adding to the energy of the festival were the vibrant performances that lit up the stage and captivated the crowd. On the first and second days of Spring-kle, the “Shaound of Music” stage—named with a witty nod to SNU’s nickname “Sha”—hosted student clubs and performance teams showcasing their passion and talent. The band “Yonggamhan Cookie (Brave Cookie)” shared that they jumped at the rare opportunity to perform in front of the entire student body, saying, “We wanted to be part of this because it’s not every day you get to play for all of SNU.” With upbeat and youthful songs, they hoped to convey a fearless message: not to be afraid of failure.
Another highlight was “Twisted Worldline”, a project band that initially formed for an off-campus show but later brought their high-level performance to the festival stage. Their set, themed around “necromancy,” featured bold, unconventional arrangements and creative flair. One of their standout moments was a rearranged version of IU’s “Celebrity,” cheekily renamed “Hellebrity.” After the performance, they reflected, “It feels so refreshing and fulfilling. Just like our name suggests, it felt like different worldlines—people who wouldn’t normally meet—twisted together to create one unforgettable moment on stage.”
“Shaound of Music” performance
The “Busking: Buskery” performance held on the first day at the Central Lawn brought a warm and relaxed atmosphere to the festival, deepening the emotional resonance of Spring-kle. Among the performers was “Yeak”, a newly formed traditional Korean music club. “Back in our freshman year, we watched the festival from the audience and dreamed of one day standing on stage,” they shared. “But that dream got buried under our academic workload—until we came across the open call and felt it was now or never.” Their setlist, which featured original compositions and creative reinterpretations of gugak (traditional Korean music), reflected their desire to make the genre feel more familiar and approachable, breaking away from its stereotype as difficult or outdated.
“The Cellio Ensemble”, composed of students majoring in orchestral music and cello, also took the stage. “As we approach graduation, we were sad we hadn’t had the chance to play together one last time,” they said. “This performance gave us that moment.” They chose friendly, recognizable pieces to ensure the set would be enjoyable even for classical music newcomers. “Though the strong winds made things difficult,” they added, “just playing together again made it all worthwhile.”
Wrapping up the lineup was “Signifier & Signified”, a humanities student band that shared their heartfelt reason for performing: “More than just festival romance, we wanted to deliver a message of comfort and hope to students through our music.” They expressed gratitude for the chance to perform in front of the entire student body and added, “We hope this festival becomes a small pause—a moment of rest—in everyone’s busy campus life.”
“Busking: Buskery” performance
The festival came to a rousing close with the Spring-kle Closing Concert, held on the final day at Beodeulgol. A wide array of student clubs took to the stage—bands, vocal groups, and dance crews—showcasing the passion and talent they had honed over the semester. This year, a new addition to the lineup drew special attention: SNU Dance Fighter, a dance competition that replaced last year’s band contest. More than just a battle of skills, the event brought out the joy of dancing together. The dance club “H.I.S” lit up the stage with bright, bubbly energy, while “Hontoni” impressed the crowd with their powerful and intense choreography. When the official SNU cheer squad made their entrance, the entire audience stood up and joined in singing the school’s fight song, transforming the space into a unified sea of voices. To top it all off, the festival concluded with a dazzling performance by a guest artist, wrapping up Spring-kle on a high note with music, movement, and collective celebration.
Spring-kle Closing Concert
Spanning three days, Spring-kle served not just as a festival, but as a vibrant celebration of student-led community. From planning and operations to performances on stage, every aspect was created by students themselves—blurring the lines between organizer and audience, and bringing everyone together in the spirit of shared joy.
Centered around Beodeulgol and the Central Lawn, the festival’s wide array of programs and performances brought a renewed sense of energy that lifted students beyond the routine of daily life. The campus echoed with laughter and cheers, as Spring-kle became someone’s first step onto the stage and someone else’s final university memory. It was a space where students of all majors and years were able to connect through warmth, music, and celebration. True to its name, Spring-kle shimmered under the spring sunlight—its moments of passion, joy, and connection illuminating the green campus of SNU.
Translated by Siyun Lee (Department of Applied Biology and Chemistry)