Reported by Jaein Cha
(KSEA-South Texas Chapter – Texas A&M University Vice President)
The 2024 Field Day (운동회) was hosted by the Texas A&M University sub-chapter of the KSEA South Texas Chapter on Saturday, November 16, 2024, at Bee Creek Pavilion in College Station, Texas. The event brought together 59 members of the KSEA community, creating an energetic atmosphere that fostered connections among undergraduate and graduate students while celebrating Korean culture and traditions.
Field Day, known as 운동회 in Korean, stands as one of the signature annual events of Texas A&M University’s KSEA Young Generation (YG) group, designed to strengthen the bonds within the Korean community in College Station while providing valuable networking opportunities among participants by having fun with various outdoor games that involve some physical activities.
The day began at 11:30 AM with check-in and team formation of attendees into groups of four teams, followed by a traditional Korean BBQ lunch featuring delicious pork belly (삼겹살, samgyeopsal). Dedicated student volunteers, who are a part of the officers of the KSEA YG group, worked diligently at the grill stations, ensuring everyone could enjoy authentic Korean cuisine while socializing with fellow members, providing an excellent opportunity for attendees to connect in an informal setting.
The official program commenced at 12:40 PM with an opening ceremony that set an enthusiastic tone for the activities ahead. To break the ice, participants engaged in a lively song quiz where snippets of popular songs were played, and teams competed to identify them first. Winners received special prizes, popular Korean snacks including banana flavored milk and chocolate-covered biscuit sticks, creating an atmosphere of friendly competition right from the start.
Following the song quiz, the event transitioned to the Korean Morning Stretching Routine (국민체조), led by student officers. This traditional warm-up activity not only prepared participants for the physical games ahead but also introduced international members to an iconic warm up routine of Korean Field Day culture. The OX quiz tested participants’ knowledge of KSEA and general trivia, with players moving to either the “O” or “X” side based on their answers to various statements. Winners received raffle tickets for the end-of-day drawing.
The afternoon continued with high-energy team competitions. The Tug of War (줄다리기) and Flip Board (판 뒤집기) games ran simultaneously on different sides of the field, allowing maximum participation and engagement of all the four teams. Teams showcased their strength and strategy in Tug of War, while the Flip Board game challenged participants to work together to turn over as many boards as possible within the time limit. After completing one activity, teams switched sides to ensure everyone experienced both games.
The excitement continued with an intense round of Dodgeball (피구), where teams displayed their athleticism and teamwork. The game brought out friendly competitive spirits among participants, with each team developing their own strategies to outlast their opponents.
A unique addition to this year’s event was the team photo competition, where each team had the opportunity to take creative group photos. Texas A&M University KSEA members voted on social media for their favorite team photo based on originality and ability to capture the spirit of KSEA, with the winning photo earning raffle tickets for the big prizes.
The highlight of the day was an elaborate relay race featuring various stations, each offering unique challenges that tested different skills and promoted teamwork. At the first station, teams participated in Cham Cham Cham (참참참), a classic Korean game testing quick reflexes and direction guessing. Teams had to win three rounds in a row, adding an extra layer of difficulty to this traditional game. Moving to the next station, participants encountered a Korean version of the Elephant’s Trunk Race, where competitors had to spin in place 10 times while bent over, mimicking an elephant’s trunk, before running to the next station. This challenge added an element of disorientation and fun to the relay, as participants struggled to maintain their balance after spinning.
The course continued with Jump Rope Double Under (쌩쌩이 줄넘기), where participants needed to complete three successful double-unders, demonstrating their coordination and jump rope skills. At the next station, teams engaged in a special Synergy game that required them to work together and create same poses that matched with both the randomly given keyword and each other, emphasizing the importance of teamwork and their “synergy.” Following this, players faced Jegichagi (제기차기), a traditional Korean game that required them to kick a jegi, which is a Korean traditional shuttlecock-like object, three times without letting it touch the ground, bringing a touch of Korean cultural heritage to the competition.
As participants approached the final station, they encountered Snack-on-a-String game, where players attempted to eat suspended snacks without using their hands, creating moments of laughter and entertainment for both participants and spectators. The relay concluded at the finish line, where teams could only cross after successfully completing all previous stations, ensuring that every team member participated fully in each challenge.
The day concluded with a much-anticipated raffle drawing where various prizes were distributed to lucky winners, and special recognition was given to the top-performing teams from the day’s activities with a prize of chocolate-filled canes. Before departing, all participants gathered for a commemorative group photo, capturing the spirit of community and friendship that defined the event.
The 2024 Field Day proved to be a remarkable success, achieving its core objective of strengthening the KSEA community at Texas A&M University. The combination of traditional Korean games, team activities, and shared meals created numerous opportunities for meaningful interactions between undergraduate and graduate students. Feedback from participants was overwhelmingly positive, with many expressing appreciation for the chance to experience Korean culture while building lasting connections with fellow students.
This successful event demonstrates the continuing importance of cultural and social gatherings in building a strong, connected academic community at Texas A&M University, and sets a positive precedent for future KSEA activities.
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