AS the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly disrupted what otherwise would have been an active and exciting spring and summer seasons, South Korean universities are scrambling to find a way to resume some semblance of normalcy in the fall semester by taking annual festivals online.

Most of the country’s universities put off their spring festivals, hoping that a virus slowdown would allow them to be held in the fall.

As the plan is unlikely to be realized amid a second wave of coronavirus infections, schools have begun to look for alternatives to in-person events.

Most notably, Yonsei University and its rival Korea University in Seoul will replace their sports competition with an online game event this year.

Last month, the two schools canceled the decades-long annual tradition, originally scheduled for October, as virus infections showed no signs of easing. It marked the first cancellation due to a pandemic since the competition started in 1965.

Soongsil University has offered a series of online events to help students “beat the coronavirus blues.” Through the cultural and music sessions that were streamed live, students interacted with guest lecturers including Lee Nak-yon, leader of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, and singer-songwriter Zion.T.

“Campus festivals had to change in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Oh Jong-un, president of the university’s student body.

Kyunghee University is also planning a virtual event. “If we can hold an online fest successfully, we will be able to usher in a new online festival culture,” its student governing body said.

Ewha Womans University is set to air special festival clips on its YouTube channel and run a separate online flea market for students.

Other universities, which scrapped their in-person events and festivals for this year, are working to create interesting remote festivals that can boost the sense of community among students.

Seoul National University canceled its fall festival, scheduled to take place at the end of this month; while Konkuk University put off its spring festival indefinitely and Hanyang University called off its fall event.

(SD-Agencies)