Over a month ago was Korea University’s Ipselenti Music Festival—one of the most anticipated events of the semester. Since the day I moved into the dorms in February, other students told me about this fateful week in May where some of the biggest A-list names in K-pop come to perform on campus. Now that I lived through it, I clearly understand what the hype was about.
Known as Daedongje, universities all over Korea hold similar multi-day music festivals during mid to late May that are often only open to students for free or for a low price (I paid 20,000 KRW or around $13). Oftentimes, universities announce star-studded lineups a week before the actual festival, but at Korea University, the performing acts are not revealed in advance.
In the days leading up to the festival, the exchange student group chat buzzed with anticipation, spreading rumors about the acts to come. As a casual enjoyer of K-pop, I did not really have any performers I was particularly yearning to see. I told myself I would be happy if I at least recognized some songs. The exchange student group chat did prophesy that Psy would be the grand finale act on the final day. Now, this got me excited—I have fond memories of my mom playing the Gangnam Style music video in our living room when the song first dropped, while we copied Psy’s bouncy side-to-side gallop. I set my hopes on one thing for this festival: the chance to see Psy live.
Since my friend was visiting for the first few days of the festival, I did not attend those first few days. They included smaller lineups of K-pop acts at the smaller venue of Minju Square. From the rumors in the exchange student group chat, none were acts that I felt particularly connected to, so I did not feel like I was missing out. Moreover, the first few days of smaller lineups were not open to exchange students, so even if I went, I would be subjected to standing outside the designated student watch area. From the rumors in the group chat, I was elated to see that every single one of them came true. Over the first three days, some big names I recall performing on campus include: Le Sserafim, Cortis, Illit, TXT, and BoyNextDoor.
Finally, the fourth and final day of Ipselenti arrived. Being the last day, it was a full day of festival performances. After my Friday morning class, I headed over to the Tiger Dome stadium where I met up with my friend Angelina. After receiving our stamps of entry, we walked along the food truck lined street to the stadium, swerving through the sea of red and white Korea University students. Once we reached the stadium, we sat on some bleachers in the shade, listening to the student dancers and bands perform. At one point, Korea University cheerleaders performed, and students all around the stadium stood up and engaged in the famed long list of memorized cheer dances. The energy among the crowd was palpable and only made me excited for the acts to come.
Just before sunset was when the K-pop lineup began. We jolted up from the bleachers and rushed our way onto the audience pit before the stage. Suddenly, I was packed sardine-style, among thousands of students. The first couple of acts were performers I vaguely recognized. From the cheers from the crowd, I could tell they were well loved among Korean students. As every next act got announced, I repeatedly checked the exchange student group chat, tallying the near perfect predictions of the projected lineup and gradually anticipating the fateful Psy performance.
Perhaps the biggest cheers came when the final and most famous acts were announced. The crowd jolted forward for Aespa’s announcement, iPhone cameras pointed at Karina, Winter, Giselle, and Ningning as they waltzed on stage. I took my pocket camera out and recorded their electrifying performance of hits such as “Whiplash” and “Supernova”. After Aespa was sibling duo, AKMU, who brought a more acoustic, jazzy sound that was refreshing contrast to earlier high energy beats.
Then there was an intermission period. Fireworks were shot into the sky, illuminating the darkening dusk with rippling fire. Commercials played on the stage screens, with each loop a large groan would echo from the audience. Finally, the stage screens darkened, and the next act, Taeyang, was announced. His performance was accompanied by energetic visuals and intermittent bursts of flames; I could feel its warmth from my place in the pit. He played many iconic hits from his days as a Big Bang member, hyping up the audience as they chanted along.
After Taeyang’s performance, the stage screens went dark. Students murmured that he might have been the last act, considering it was already ten o’clock and there was no next announcement. People around me started filtering out, but Angelina and I inched closer to the stage. We decided to wait a few more moments in case there was a final act.
After about five minutes, as our hope began to falter, the screens suddenly turned on, illuminating a graphic of a red curtain. A message was displayed: Psy was announced as the final act. A roar of excitement reverberated from the audience. Students around me were clutching their heads in disbelief. After a countdown, Psy spawned on stage, performing his classic hits. Towards the middle of his performance was the long-awaited Gangnam Style. I danced along, just as I did in my living room all those years ago. Water cannons blasted during the beat drops, its cool rain drenching me. All I could think about was how it was a truly perfect end to the Daedongje experience. I felt so grateful to be studying abroad at the time and to partake in such a quintessential Korean university experience.