Korea University: High-spirited and joyful moments, with the Baetnorae cheer resonating throughout stadiums
Korea University (KU) claimed victory in the Annual Korea-Yonsei Sports Competition (Ko-Yon Games), held for the first time since the outbreak of the pandemic, with 3 wins and 2 losses.
KU and Yonsei University (YU) held the 2022 Ko-Yon Games over two days beginning on Friday October 28.
The two prestigious Korean universities have long held an annual sports competition, using it as an opportunity to reaffirm and celebrate their historic ties of friendship. The Ko-Yon Games, historically grounded in rivalry between Bosung College and Yonhi College, is widely recognized as the event with the highest festive spirit among students from the two universities. The history of sports competitions between them dates back to 1925 when their first soft tennis match was held. Two years later, a soccer match took place, which paved the way for the annual competition we know now. Since 1965, the annual competition has consisted of the five sports of baseball, basketball, ice hockey, rugby, and soccer.
The Ko-Yon Games this year kicked off its two-day schedule with the opening ceremony at Jamsil Baseball Stadium on Friday October 28 at 10:30 AM. During the ceremony, KU President Chung Jin Taek delivered congratulatory remarks, saying, “Today, we finally meet again after three years. During the period when the annual competition has been halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we truly realized how important this event is in the history of our two universities—eternal rivals and companions of each other. We have been yearning to hold this annual competition again on a large scale. Young people from our two schools, the future leaders of our nation, have always celebrated this festival in high spirits and with blissful joy, and created a culture of companionship together. We once again gather here today to reaffirm our lasting friendship. I would like to express my deepest gratitude to all those who have striven to make this true venue of festivity a reality. To the protagonists of the day, the players of the five sports from both schools! You are already the winners of this competition. You have worked hard to be in the best shape possible, and you are heroes to us all. You are here to represent the best of each school in the spirit of good sportsmanship. I hope that all students from our schools will remember this competition, held after a long time in abeyance, as the most youthful and memorable day of their life, in celebrating beautiful friendship. Sing and shout at the top of your voices, embrace joy with your whole body, and hold each other tight with brotherly and sisterly love.”
Subsequently, YU Provost Kim Eun-kyoung addressed the audience by reading opening remarks on behalf of President Suh Seoung-hwan, who was not able to attend the ceremony as he had symptoms of COVID-19. “Today, we are here in Jamsil, a venue full of youthful spirit and passionate zeal. The roar of KU’s tiger and the splendid swooshing of the wings of YU’s eagle resonate across the green grass and blue sky of Jamsil for the first time in three years. It was a pity that we were not able to share the glorious moments we all deserved during that period. I hope that we will be able to offer each other beautiful moments by doing our utmost in all of the matches, as we have always done. KU and YU are arguably the greatest university rivals on earth, while they have also cultivated a precious, lasting friendship with each other. Our two schools, the living proof of the development of our nation, understand one another deeply, including our passion for noble competition. I hope that all YU and KU students and community members, including student athletes who have trained diligently in order to represent the honor and glory of their school and the cheering squads through their high spirits and enthusiasm, will showcase their attachment to their school under the banner of each university.”
Student representatives of both schools also celebrated the kickoff of the event. Ham Young-jin, chairman of the Emergency Committee of the YU Student Association, said, “This Ko-Yon Games is the first to be finally held after three years. It took such a long time for us to feel this joyful enthusiasm again. Let us put behind us the long, cold season caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and rekindle our passions. I hope that we can take this moment as an opportunity to shed a renewed light on the meaning of our communities and our connectedness. We have been able to learn the value of community during a time of disconnection. We are currently living in a world growingly fragmented by individualism, selfishness and fierce competition. However, let us remember and cherish the value of community, rather than following the pack. The power that communities can embody is truly amazing. KU students took to the street on April 18, 1960, condemning the electoral fraud of March 15, which became the April 18 KU Student Movement, while the sacrifice of Lee Han-yeol, a YU student, sparked nationwide demonstrations known as the June 10 Democratic Uprising. The students of the two schools contributed to the ushering in of true democracy in the Republic of Korea. Let us sing of our community together. The shouts of YU students will become the undulation of the wings of an eagle, which soars to the heavens and proclaims truth and freedom, and the tiger of KU will issue a roar for justice that rends the earth. This is the 57th year of the Ko-Yon Games. Let us enjoy to the fullest the culture of sports and competition that our two schools have created together. Let us stand shoulder to shoulder with each other and shout and cheer. This culture will continue to serve our community as the driving force behind YU and KU. Let us show our zeal and youthful spirit.”
Student representatives of both schools also celebrated the kickoff of the event. Ham Young-jin, chairman of the Emergency Committee of the YU Student Association, said, “This Ko-Yon Games is the first to be finally held after three years. It took such a long time for us to feel this joyful enthusiasm again. Let us put behind us the long, cold season caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and rekindle our passions. I hope that we can take this moment as an opportunity to shed a renewed light on the meaning of our communities and our connectedness. We have been able to learn the value of community during a time of disconnection. We are currently living in a world growingly fragmented by individualism, selfishness and fierce competition. However, let us remember and cherish the value of community, rather than following the pack. The power that communities can embody is truly amazing. KU students took to the street on April 18, 1960, condemning the electoral fraud of March 15, which became the April 18 KU Student Movement, while the sacrifice of Lee Han-yeol, a YU student, sparked nationwide demonstrations known as the June 10 Democratic Uprising. The students of the two schools contributed to the ushering in of true democracy in the Republic of Korea. Let us sing of our community together. The shouts of YU students will become the undulation of the wings of an eagle, which soars to the heavens and proclaims truth and freedom, and the tiger of KU will issue a roar for justice that rends the earth. This is the 57th year of the Ko-Yon Games. Let us enjoy to the fullest the culture of sports and competition that our two schools have created together. Let us stand shoulder to shoulder with each other and shout and cheer. This culture will continue to serve our community as the driving force behind YU and KU. Let us show our zeal and youthful spirit.”
Lee Yong-jae, chairman of the Central Emergency Committee of the KU Student Council, also delivered celebratory remarks, saying, “I am happy to see this event happening after a two-year hiatus, even though the preparations for it were not smooth at all. Since this competition was postponed to the end of October for several reasons, the stadium for the baseball match must have been determined only six days before the kickoff of this 2022 Ko-Yon Games, based on the results of the 2022 professional baseball season. This seriously delayed preparations, which also fell within the mid-term exam period. As a result, the Student Council members had to push hard until yesterday to make this event a reality. Nevertheless, today we are successfully celebrating its opening since all of us came together in unity in the leadup to it. The Student Council, other autonomous student groups and related departments of our schools met the demands of a murderous schedule to hold this event in safety, which will offer the most unforgettable victorious and glorious moments of all students’ school lives. The Central Emergency Committee of the KU Student Council convened a special committee focused on the Ko-Yon Games in order to advance whatever was required at the student council level. We held several rounds of meetings and went on field trips even during the mid-term period. We are still doing our utmost to make every student feel happy at this annual competition by distributing tickets, setting up booths, livestreaming the event on screen, and preparing for the closing ceremony. I would like to reiterate that we are successfully resuming this annual event after a two-year hiatus thanks to the unstinting efforts made by all students, faculty members, staff, and alumni of our two schools in the spirit of harmony.”
The baseball game started at 11:30 AM, following the opening ceremony. KU made a pleasing start in the top of the first inning with a good pitch from Kim Yoo-seong (2021, Department of Physical Education). In the bottom of the inning, Yoo Jeong-taek (2022, PE) and Ahn Jae-yeon (2022, PE) got a base on balls and then Yoo succeeded in successively stealing bases. With runners on first and third bases with no outs, Kim Beom-jin (2021, PE) hit a single bringing Yoo home. With a sacrifice fly from Kim Eung-joo (2020, PE), KU scored another run and took a 2-0 lead.
In the top of the second, KU let no batter reach first base, continuing the positive mood struck in the bottom of the first. In the top of the fourth, KU aroused cheers from the spectators with a strike out followed by a double play. However, YU had reinforced its defense by putting Cho Gang-hui on the mound in the bottom of the third and launched its counterattack from the top of the fifth. With bases loaded and no outs, YU tied the score at 2-2 with two RBIs collected by Ko Seung-wan, and then took the lead for the first time by scoring one more with Kim Jin-hyung’s sacrifice fly. The top of the sixth seemed endless for KU as YU plated three more. KU looked to change the tide by changing its pitcher to Seok Sang-ho (2019, PE), but YU continued its momentum. In the seventh and eighth, KU played effective defense. In the eighth, Heo Jin (2020, PE) earned himself a base on balls, and Park Se-Hoon (2022, PE) and Cha Seong-Yoon (2021, PE) hit a back-to-back single, raising expectations. However, a hit by Park Geon-woo (2021, PE) was caught by Kim Taek-woo. In the top of the ninth, Kim Ju-seop took over the mound and prevented any scoring. However, KU failed to score in the bottom of the ninth. The game ended with a final score of 2-8.
The ice hockey game began at 2:30 PM on the same day at Mokdong Ice Rink.
KU’s victory was decided in the first period. In a power play four minutes after the start of the first period, KU took possession of the puck from the faceoff, and Kang Min-wan (2019, PE, LW) scored first after persisting with several shooting attempts through the defense line in front of the goal. KU continued to have more possession of the puck and scored the second goal at the 11-minute mark. Kim Seong-jae (2020, PE, CF) received a pass from Cho Hyun-gyeom (2022, PE, RD) and accurately shot the puck into the net past YU’s goalie. Less than three minutes later, Moon Jin-hyuk (2019, PE, CF) did not miss the empty space. He sprinted and scored with a single shot, with the KU team finishing the first period up 3-0. While KU continued to shoot on target, YU struggled. YU’s Shin Dong-hyun tried to attack several times only to fail to break KU’s strong defense line.
In the beginning of the second period, KU got badly outnumbered and the game became a battle. After a penalty was awarded against Jeong Ho-Hyun (2020, PE, LD) at the 4-minute mark, Lee Hyung-Seok (2020, PE, CF) was also sent off, so KU had only three players on the rink. In a YU power play, Kim Hyo-seok finally scored to make it 3:1. Subsequently, KU perfectly stifled YU’s attack and continued to make effective shots. When their penalties came to an end, Jeong Ho-Hyeon and Kwon Hyun-Soo (2022, PE, RW) took possession of the puck. In particular, in the middle of the period, Kim attempted a perfect mid-range shot, but YU’s goalie blocked it, causing disappointment. With 27 seconds left before the end of the second period, an aggressive body check took place in front of YU’s goal post, but both teams ended the period without scoring more.
While leading the match with a score of 3:1, KU showed that attack was the best defense in the third period. YU prodded KU’s defense from the beginning, but KU’s Kim Sung-jae counterattacked, in this way not allowing YU to score. KU scored once again at the 14-minute mark, taking a step closer to victory, when Cho Hyun-gyeom successfully shot the puck at YU’s goal at high speed. Two minutes before the end of the game, Lee Dong-seok received a penalty, which put KU on the defensive, but KU’s goalie expertly blocked the shot of YU’s Shin Dong-hyeon. Approaching the end of the match, it was interrupted several times due to aggressive scuffling between the two teams. However, KU did not allow the opponent to score any more and thus won the game.
As a result, KU gained its first victory in the 2022 Ko-Yon Games. In contrast to the unsportsmanlike behavior of some YU players during and after the game, KU players showcased another level of sportsmanship, thereby displaying both their skills and dignity..
The basketball game started at 5:00 PM in Goyang Indoor Gymnasium.
The crowd in Goyang Indoor Gymnasium was already tense and excited even before the basketball match began with the news of KU’s victory in the ice hockey match. KU students quickly filled the vacant cheering section and soon after began pep rallies, overwhelming the opponent with powerful shouts and cheers.
Shortly after the whistle was blown, in the first quarter Kim Tae-hoon (2020, PE) scored first with a layup. Subsequently, KU blocked YU’s attack skillfully and scored again with a successful counterattack by Shin Ju-young (2022, PE), putting KU four points ahead. KU’s cheering squad and students cheered loudly to bolster the mood. However, YU managed to tie it up at 4:4 with successive attacks. The two teams continued a nip-and-tuck match in both defense and offense, and the first quarter ended with a score of 15:15.
The second quarter, starting with a YU attack, became even more intense. Following a successful three-pointer by YU’s Lee Kyu-tae, KU’s attacks were blocked repeatedly by YU’s solid defense. KU called a timeout to halt YU’s momentum. Subsequently, Park Moo-bin (2022, PE) scored an and-one, turning the tide. When KU was behind YU by five points with the score at 32-27, YU called a timeout. In the second quarter, both teams called two timeouts each. With YU’s failure and KU’s success with successive free throws, KU narrowed the gap to 32-30. Then, thanks to a buzzer-beating layup from Yang Jun, KU tied the score at 32:32.
In the third quarter, both teams put up a tight defense. Moon Jeong-hyeon (2020, PE) opened up a lead with a 3-point shot. However, YU’s Lee Gyu-tae poured cold water on KU’s momentum to establish a gap in YU’s favor. A neck and neck match continued when Park Moo-bin scored an and-one, opening the door to victory. Subsequently, Shin Joo-young succeeded in a 3-point shot, widening the gap. KU closed the third quarter with a score of 49:45, with Park scoring twice in a row. However, during the last counterattack, his leg was injured, which meant all bets were off.
KU started the fourth quarter with an attack, without the team captain on the court. Moon Jeong-hyeon succeeded with two 3-point shots, substantially increasing the lead and bringing a lot of momentum. Although Kim Tae-Hoon also got injured, his injury actually united the KU basketball team, making the players stronger. KU increased the gap to 10 points through Park Jeong-hwan (2022, PE) and-one and two more successful shots in a row. Yang Jun succeeded with two free throws and dampened YU’s spirits. Park Moo-bin, who seemed unable to play due to an injury, returned to the court with a fighting spirit. Making a clever move given YU’s situation, which had already picked up four fouls, Park received two free throws and succeeded with both. Park Jung-hwan finished the match with an and-one play. The final score was 72:64. Team Captain Park Moo-bin scored 22 points and was the top scorer in the match.
On Saturday October 29, the second day of the 2022 Ko-Yon Games, the rugby match started at 12:00 PM at Goyang Sports Complex.
Even before the start of the match, the stadium was filled with the red roars of KU students as hopes were rising for victory in the overall competition because of the 2 wins and 1 loss on the first day.
In the first half of the game, YU took the lead with a successful penalty kick, but at the 5-minute mark, Lee Moon-gyu (2022, PE) started a counterattack which ended with a try. At the 11-minute mark in the first half, Kim Chan-Joo (2020, PE) and Kim Hyun-Jin (2021, PE) scored a try and a conversion, respectively, creating momentum. Although they conceded a try to Yonsei at the 20-minute and 28-minute marks in the first half, KU broke YU’s resolve with a try by Oh Moon-seong (2019, PE) and a conversion by Kim Hyun-jin. KU ended the first half with an 8-point lead of 25:17, with Kim Hyun-jin’s two successful penalties in a row in the 34th and 40th minutes.
KU dominated the second half. At the 5-minute mark, KU scored with a try by Won Jeong-ho (2020, PE) and successive penalties by Kim Hyun-jin, creating an overwhelming atmosphere. Team Captain Shin Ki-soo (2019, PE) also scored a try, removing any hope of YU turning the game around. KU widened the gap to 28 points with a score of 45:17 with Kim Hyun-jin’s try and conversion, and YU failed to score much in the second half. KU’s score exceeded 50 points with the try of Lee Moon-gyu and the conversion of Kim Hyeon-jin, and they finished the game with a final score of 57:24 with Choi Ho-young’s (2020, PE) try just before the end of the match.
KU put on an overwhelming performance, scoring more than double YU’s points, which demonstrated the team’s solid skills, including expertly taking penalty chances and scoring reliably. In the second half, in particular, KU played a perfect game by scoring 32 points while conceding only 7. KU was the first to sing the song of victory at Goyang Sports Complex. Thanks to its victory in the rugby match, KU confirmed its overall victory in the 2022 Ko-Yon Games, regardless of the result of the remaining soccer game.
The soccer match, the last game of the annual event, was held at Goyang Sports Complex, starting at 2:30 PM.
After KU’s overall victory was confirmed, its cheering section was filled with excited roars and shouts. On the day, KU adopted a 3-4-3 formation while YU played with a 3-5-2 shape. The formations suggested that both teams would put up a solid defense, and the match was expected to be tightly contested. KU kicked off, and two minutes into the first half YU took the lead after it had been awarded a free-kick in a good position in front of goal. Although YU failed to score from it, it maintained control of the game, attacks coming from both wings. KU blocked YU’s aggressive attack with a strong defense. Do Jae-kyung (2020, PE) made a nice clean tackle at the 11-minute mark. KU was given a free kick in front of goal on 30 minutes, which reversed the atmosphere in KU’s favor. The taker was Do Jae-kyung. Although it was unsuccessful, KU continued to pound on YU’s goal, Kim Chae-woong (2021, PE) attempting a header, which further had KU’s tails up. However, the first half ended with a score of 0:0.
In the second half, KU changed tactics, using Lee Ji-ho (2021, PE) to attack YU from the wing. KU seemed about to take the lead by relentlessly hammering against YU’s defense, but YU scored first with Jo Dong-yeol’s goal at the 51-minute mark. KU continued its attacks from the wing using Lee Ji-ho, and in the 81st minute Kim Ji-ho (2022, PE) dribbled through YU’s defense solo and took a shot, which unfortunately was straight at YU’s goalkeeper. The KU players continued to advance toward YU’s goal, not allowing YU to let their guard down even late into injury time, but KU failed to score a goal. The match ended with a score of 0:1.
During the Ko-Yon Games this year, attention was also drawn to the first ever ‘Women’s club soccer’ game, which, as a soccer powerhouse, KU won.
The Ko-Yon Games is not just a student event. The KU Social Service Organization invited 35 students from Kodae Middle School in Dangjin, South Chungcheong Province, to the rugby and soccer games on the second day of the event. The Organization has built links with the school through the Summer Vision Camp, which has been held as part of the Organization’s efforts to revitalize small local schools. In addition, the KU Student Council prepared designated seating for students with severe disabilities to help them enjoy the matches in comfort.
Alumni also supported the annual event. The KU Alumni Association sponsored a total of 116 buses (20 on the first day, 96 on the second) to run from KU’s campus and other areas of Seoul to the sports venues, which transported some 3,700 students. In addition, KU Alumni Association President Seung Myung-ho as well as other alumni associations offered free beverages in 41 bars near Chamsari Trail to students, who were exhausted from cheering.
In the history of the Ko-Yon Games, KU has recorded 19 wins, 10 ties and 20 losses. More recently, KU has outperformed YU with 8 wins, 6 ties and 6 losses since 2000, and 5 wins, 2 ties and 2 losses over the past decade.