[Corona Hakbeon] College Graduation and Entrance Ceremonies Without a Single Photo

On the 13th of last month, a bouquet was placed on the teacher's desk in a 6th-grade classroom at Wonhyo Elementary School in Seoul, where a non-face-to-face graduation ceremony was held due to COVID-19. On that day, graduates and parents attended the ceremony in real-time by connecting online. Photo by Joint Press Corps

[Asia Economy Reporter Donghoon Jung] Job seeker Goh Hanseong (30) received a congratulatory text message from his university on the 16th, celebrating his graduation. The message included the phrase “Congratulations on the graduation of the proud **in Goh Hanseong” along with a link to a mobile congratulatory card. Goh said, "Although I am busy preparing for employment, I wanted to take at least one photo on graduation day," adding, "It is unfortunate not to be able to celebrate the completion of my university life with a graduation ceremony."

Although it is the season for graduation and admission, it is hard to find even a single photo being taken on university campuses. This change is due to universities either canceling most events such as graduation and entrance ceremonies or holding them online because of COVID-19. The once lively campuses have become quiet, leading to the phrase “the lost classes of 2020 and 2021.” While graduates have at least experienced campus life, freshmen have not even started the university life they once dreamed of, including freshman welcome parties and MT (Membership Training trips).

This year, Lee Jaeho (19), who enrolled in a university in the metropolitan area, did not even look for a place to live near campus. He started the first semester from his hometown, Jinju in Gyeongnam. He said, "Since classes are online, there seemed to be no need to find a room," adding, "Because of COVID-19, it seems my 'dreamed university life' will not happen." Lee is preparing to enlist in the military as soon as he finishes the first semester. Yeo Suyun (20), who started university last year, said, "I have only met seniors and classmates once or twice, but we show our faces through Zoom (video conferencing app) or KakaoTalk Face Talk and even have 'online drinking parties,'" adding, "I hope we overcome COVID-19 well and meet on campus this year."

According to a survey by Alba Heaven of 3,129 students from the class of 2020, the dreams they most want to fulfill on campus after the end of COVID-19 are ‘university festivals (52.6%)’, OT and MT (48.7%), and opening and closing parties (31.1%). As universities hold ‘online openings,’ merchants around campuses have become distressed. In particular, rental property agents near universities are facing an emergency due to ‘vacant one-room apartments.’ A real estate agent in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, where many universities are concentrated, said, "Last year, at least people were looking for rooms, but this year, those searching for real estate are at half the level."

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