A few weeks ago I attended an annual sporting event between the top two private universities in Korea: Yonsei University and Korea University. The event has a different name depending on which school you support. Yonsei fans call the event Yon-ko Jeon and KU fans call it Ko-yon Jeon.
Every year students come out wearing either red or blue to support their team in 5 sporting competitions including baseball, basketball, ice hockey, rugby and soccer.
I'm more than aware of the fact that Americans love their college sports, but I have never witnessed so much school spirit in my life. Going to Illini football and basketball games, the students were always singing the ritual cheers but the spirit emitted at Yon-ko Jeon was beyond anything I've seen before.
Something important to know first...the cheering squad is actually the group held in the highest esteem at any university; especially these two. There is always one head cheerleader, it happened to be a male on this years squad. The head cheerleader at a Korean university is like the quarterback of the football team at any US school: everyone either wants to be that person or be with that person, ya catch my drift?
These cheerleading squads have maybe 20 members that are officially on the squad. They wear fancy, bright dance attire which has no commonality with their school colors or mascot. Then there are maybe 40 others that dance and do routines with flags, however these are the youngin's who want to be on the official squad.
The cheerleading squad has the hardest job because all of the fans are up dancing and singing THE ENTIRE TIME!! They never quit! When one song ends, another one comes on and they start up a different dance. Most often these songs are popular Korean songs and not 'school' songs. Although they do have school songs with dances as well...
I think I've said enough and you should witness for yourself...
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