The North Carolina (NC) KSEA local chapter hosted an in-person event on October 28, 2023: The Triangle Sports Day. This event served as a platform for networking within the North Carolina KSEA community. Its name, “The Triangle,” was an homage to the renowned “Research Triangle Park,” which encompasses significant research facilities and companies centered around three major academic institutions: the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-Chapel Hill), Duke University, and North Carolina State University (NCSU).
The Triangle event was led and organized by the President of the KSEA NC Chapter, Sung-Ju Kim, PhD (NCSU). The organizing team included the Vice President of the KSEA NC Chapter, Donghwan Moon, AIA (NCSU), and student representatives at KSEA NC Chapter: Hyunjun Choi (PhD Candidate, NCSU), Jaekuk Lee (PhD Candidate, NCSU), Sunho Moon (PhD Candidate, NCSU), Gyeonghun Kim (PhD Candidate, Duke), Jiwoong Lim (PhD Candidate, UNC-Chapel Hill), Uijeong Jo (PharmD Candidate, UNC-Chapel Hill), Min-Sung Seo (PhD Candidate, UNC-Chapel Hill).
The organizing team orchestrated three main games: Human Bingo, O/X Quiz, and Mission Relay Race, 100 Relay Race, and added the popular game “무궁화 꽃이 피었습니다” (Red Light/Green Light). Set against the scenic backdrop of NCSU’s Miller field, the event drew a diverse crowd of approximately 115 attendees, including regular members, graduate members, and KSEA NC Chapter families and children. In particular, approximately 40 new members participated in this event. Participants were grouped into three teams, each representing UNC-Chapel Hill, Duke, and NCSU, proudly displaying their respective school colors.
The friendly competition among the three groups representing UNC, Duke, and NCSU added to the vibrant atmosphere. The event included exciting games that brought out the participants’ enthusiasm and teamwork, with prizes awarded to the top teams at the end.
The event kicked off with the game Human Bingo, where participants from each school team were split into two groups, resulting in a total of six teams. The game was held as a tournament and followed traditional Bingo rules, with a twist that required the teams to race and place colored towels to form a winning Bingo pattern.
The afternoon turned cheerful as everyone enjoyed a tasty picnic featuring barbecued dishes and flavorful chicken fried rice. The interactive raffle activities shed light on KSEA’s initiatives. Participants were encouraged to join the various events organized by KSEA, creating a welcoming and engaging atmosphere for all.
The next game, OX 퀴즈 (O/X Quiz), engaged participants in an interactive game format, where the designated event space was divided into two distinct sections marked with an O and an X. During the game, participants were presented with a series of questions, and based on their understanding of the correct answers, they physically positioned themselves in the appropriate section. Those confident in their answers moved to the O-designated area, while those who perceived the answers to be incorrect relocated to the section labeled with an X. This dynamic setup fostered an engaging and competitive atmosphere, encouraging active participation and thoughtful decision-making among the participants.
The Mission Relay Race was another exciting game. Each team had eight participants, including four runners and four team members assigned to special tasks. During the game, the teams followed a simple rule: each runner completed half of the two laps before passing the baton to the next runner. Notably, during the race, two teammates from each team, one runner, and one task performer, teamed up to complete a special mission before continuing the relay race.
“무궁화 꽃이 피었습니다” (Red Light/Green Light) was included as an additional game, adding an extra layer of excitement to the event. It brought joy to the participants as they eagerly adjusted their speed, remaining alert to the game’s cues to advance or halt. Since this game holds a special place in childhood memories, everyone relished the opportunity to play it outdoors, fostering a sense of fellowship among the participants.
“Even though the 100-meter relay race was not initially part of the program, we organized the race because all participants were eager for more games. A total of eight representatives from each group, including a child racer from each group, were elected. The race was dramatic, exciting, and concluded with enthusiastic engagement.
The event successfully united the local community in a safe outdoor setting, fostering a vibrant atmosphere of friendly competition, laughter, and a nostalgic return to beloved childhood games. Participants were delighted with raffles, individual prizes, and team awards, adding to the entertainment. A post-event evaluation was conducted to gather feedback from participants. Heartfelt appreciation was expressed by all attendees to the event organizers and the KSEA NC Chapter for hosting the event, and there is eager anticipation for future KSEA NC chapter events in North Carolina.
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