Canceled University Cheers Also 'Untact'... KT, Online Live University Festival

[Asia Economy Reporter Seulgina Cho] KT announced on the 14th that it held an ‘Online Live University Festival’ to replace campus festivals canceled due to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

The university festival took place on the 12th from 6:30 PM at the open-air theater of Yonsei University in Sinchon, Seoul. KT broadcasted the event live through its official YouTube, Facebook, Olleh TV channel, and Season platform. Korea University and Yonsei University also delivered the festival in real time through various online channels such as their cheering squads and the ‘Yeongotv’ YouTube channel.

The event was jointly hosted by broadcaster Park Myungsoo and basketball players Woo Ji-won and Shin Ki-sung, who are alumni of each school. The online cheering was divided into three parts: ‘Harmony,’ ‘Competition,’ and ‘Finale.’ In the first part, the cheering squads of both schools and students participating remotely sang the school fight songs. LED banners set up on both sides of the open-air theater stage displayed creative cheering slogans from each school, adding to the excitement of the cheering festival. The second part, ‘Competition,’ was a traditional cheering squad battle, with MCs representing each school providing biased commentary. The third part, ‘Finale,’ concluded with a joint cheer by the cheering squads and online participants.

KT organized this online festival using non-face-to-face communication methods to connect university students, judging that social and cultural exchanges have been cut off due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, which has prevented freshmen from experiencing campus life.

Park Kwang-seo, vice leader of the Yonsei University cheering squad, said, “While considering non-face-to-face content to promote campus cheering culture, KT proposed the non-face-to-face festival, and we proceeded with it. I am glad to be able to hold the first non-face-to-face joint cheering battle with KT.”

Park Hyun-jin, Executive Director of KT’s Customer Strategy Headquarters, said, “We planned the event to resolve the disconnection among university students caused by COVID-19 and to deliver a message of hope. We hope it can be ‘Maeum:TACT (MaeumTact),’ delivering warm comfort and encouragement to university students.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.