A Week of Celebration: Yonsei's Muak Festival

Last week, Yonsei University's Sinchon campus transformed into a vibrant hub of culture, music, and community during the 2025 Muak Festival, held from May 27 to May 30 . As a student immersed in the festivities, I found the experience both exhilarating and memorable.

Day 1: The Marathon Kickoff

The festival commenced with a spirited marathon at the campus's front gate in Sinchon. Participants, including students and faculty, energized the atmosphere as they embarked on the run, setting a lively tone for the days ahead. While I am not a runner, I had many friends participate and they were so excited to be a part of this annual tradition.

Day 2: Global Campus Celebrations

On May 28, the festivities moved to Yonsei's Global Campus in Songdo. The day featured a diverse array of student performances, cultural exhibitions, and interactive booths, highlighting the university's international spirit and the talents of its global student body. I also didn’t participate in these activities because I am a student at the Sinchon campus. But any incoming freshman to Yonsei or many UIC student can look forward to this next spring!

Days 3 & 4: Sinchon Campus Festivities

Returning to the Sinchon campus on May 29 and 30, the festival reached its peak. The campus buzzed with energy as students showcased their talents through music, dance, and art. Food stalls offered a variety of cuisines, and interactive games brought together students from different departments, fostering a sense of unity and camaraderie. This is what I was able to experience and I can say it was so much fun. Walking around and smelling good food and hearing the laughter of other students talking and eating just filled me with a good vibe. It helped that the weather was beautiful these days as well.

Personal Highlights

The evening concerts were a highlight, featuring performances by student bands and guest artists that had the crowd dancing and singing along. I personally was very excited to see Silica Gel, a band I have heard much about but have had yet to listen to much of their music. I can say they put on a phenomenal show. The entire crowd sung and jumped along to every song and it was just my taste in music so I enjoyed myself without actually knowing all of the songs. After watching some of the performances, my friends and I hit the food trucks and got some fried chicken and talked and ate as the sun set.

Conclusion

The 2025 Muak Festival was a testament to Yonsei University's vibrant community and the creativity of its students. The blend of cultural appreciation, artistic expression, and communal participation made it an event to remember. I think the best way to describe it is with a Korean slang I’ve learned recently, 느좋 (neu-jot), which is short for ‘느낌 좋다’ which means ‘good vibes’.