Under the autumn sky, the passion of university students bloomed. The “1st Daedong Yeonhwa” was held on Saturday, November 11th, 2023, at the main stadium of Dongguk University’s Seoul campus. Hosted by Sangwol Gyeolsa 108 Jeonbeopdan, this event was organized by Dongguk University’s Seokrimhoe with the support of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism and the Dongguk University Foundation Committee. From 10 A.M. to 5 P.M., the event offered a variety of booths, club performances, and famous singers, bringing joy to the students. The Dongguk Post would like to revisit the event’s enthusiastic scenery by interviewing the participants.
The festival opens doors for Buddhism among students
“Daedong Yeonhwa,” a Korean abbreviation for “University Club Union Harmony Festival,” featured experience booths with monks, performances by artists like Dynamicduo, Lee Young-ji, KiKo, and school clubs. Another highlight of the event was the approximately 30 diverse booths and a quiz contest called “Bloom, Lotus, Golden Bell.” Participants competed in Buddhist knowledge for prizes. Prizes for the lottery event included iPads, AirPods Pro, and Apple Watches.
Regarding the event’s purpose and preparation, the Dongguk Post interviewed Joo Je-hyeong (Department of Buddhist Studies 21), who promoted Daedong Yeonhwa. He focused on staff work for this event and aimed to gather Buddhist students nationwide for Dharma propagation and exchange. The Buddhist College Student Union and other universities’ unions collaborated, focusing on common Buddhist themes. Seokrimhoe, a group of student monks at Dongguk University’s Buddhist Department, also cooperated with the Buddhist Department Management Committee and the vice president of Seokrimhoe.
This event offered young people who find Buddhism challenging a fresh perspective, breaking stereotypes about Buddhist study and practice. A notable segment was the “Ask Us Anything” corner, which was prepared by a Dharma mentor from Dongguk University’s Buddhist club and youth guide monks from Dalmasa. Monks listened to students’ concerns and offered solutions. It was not just providing new life directions in a more general way.
Joo Je-hyeong evaluated that Daedong Yeonhwa allowed many students to gather around the theme of Buddhism. For the festival’s continuation, he highlighted the importance of proper Dharma propagation for future young Buddhists. Despite the challenges encountered as the first event, improvements are being planned for better promotion in the future. Additionally, as a speaker of representatives of the Department of Buddhist Studies, Je-hyeong encouraged students’ interest in the school Buddhist club “Dongbul.”
Students expressed joy at the event’s diverse composition
The organizing committee conveyed that the most remarkable charm and goal of Daedong Yeonhwa was bringing together various students to showcase their uniqueness and share experiences. It surpassed a single university’s cultural event, allowing university students to bloom in their diversity and creativity. All participants expressed satisfaction. Lee Ji-yeon (Department of Political Science and Diplomacy 20) also found it a delightful experience. She attended with her campus club friends, enjoying various booths. She enjoyed playing rock-paper-scissors with a monk to get snacks. Her most memorable booth was the traditional lantern-making experience. “When the lights were off, and the lantern lit, it felt so serene and beautiful. Despite the windy weather, I did not feel cold at all,” she added. She was thrilled to win a 50,000 won Shinsegae department store voucher in the lottery.
Lee Byeong-hun (Department of Political Science and Diplomacy 21) was surprised by the event’s intriguing composition. The singing bowl booth was most memorable for him. “It was a healing time for my busy days. The combination of Buddhism and modern culture in various performances was fun and informative,” he said. He especially enjoyed the stress relief during the Korean singer Dynamicduo’s performance, where many sang and waved together.
The invited singers used some English conversations during the event as many foreigners attended. Alif Arman (University of Malaya, Diplomacy and Foreign Affairs, Junior), an exchange student at Dongguk University, also participated in Daedong Yeonhwa. After seeing banners around the school and receiving an email, he attended. “At first, I thought it was a religious festival, but I was surprised that it was more energetic than I guessed,” he said. “I attend with my friends, and it was enjoyable. Surprisingly, one of my friends won the grand prize in the lottery but did not realize it first because the announcement was in Korean, and we were confused about the numbers,” he added. The festival was his first Buddhist-related experience, which he felt was unique and special. He plans to participate in a temple stay, suggesting more use of English information and guides for greater foreign participation in the event.
Daedong Yeonhwa is open to all university students and provides networking and educational exchange opportunities. The 1st Daedong Yeonhwa Festival was ideal for students to share different backgrounds and ideas, fostering teamwork. The festival broke down communication barriers and enhanced cultural exchanges between university clubs, promoting harmony. It injected new vitality into campus culture. With the experience of Daedong Yeonhwa, Dongguk University plans continue to offer diverse programs for student exchanges combined with Buddhism.