Club Fair (동아리 박람회)

Both yesterday and today, People's Square at Korea University was bustling with people jumping from gazebo tent to another signing up to various clubs. 
Initially I didn't plan to join any, but after I heard that a couple of exchange students managed to get into some I thought 'why the heck not?' I ended up joining the archery club (the popular amongst foreigners), and a drinking club. Why am I not surprised that KU has a drinking club. Heck, all the clubs will involve MT's which means drinking.

Club Fair held at Peoples' Square (in front of Student Union building)

This was just like fresher's week at Leeds only a bit more 'ghetto' and 'louder'. You had the orchestra club's tent pitched up next to the traditional Korean music club's tent, both battling it out on who could play the loudest. The performing arts tent area had a mix of people busting out some dance moves, and belting out their own rendition of one of Beyoncé's hits through a pair of loud speakers. Some people even brought out sofas/couches (from God knows where) to the tents for prospectful club members to sit on while they signed up. 
Similar to Leeds, the students also hand out free cookies and sweets for those who come over to chat or sign up! The religion tents area is the best place to go when you get thirsty or a bit peckish. The Elgrace Campus Union (ECU) was handing out SOFT waffles! You have no idea how hard it is to find soft waffles in Korea.
You can also try some activities set up by the clubs. At the Kendo tent you can have a go at bursting a balloon with the sword, or have a go at the rowing stimulator at the rowing tent.

To name a a couple of interesting clubs available at Korea University: scuba diving, wine, Korean culture, travelling, and building homes for the homeless.

Unfortunately some of these clubs aren't so foreigner-friendly, not saying they exclude us because they hate us, but because of language barriers and so forth. When I approached the 'Sommelier' tent (wine club) and asked if they accept foreigners I was turned down because apparently they only accepted those who were staying at Korea University for the entire 2014 educational year, and knew Korean. Adding English speaking members would have been burdensome.
Luckily, the other alcohol-related club was more accepting, and warmly welcomed me and my friend to their tent to try out some drinking games. They even let us try a cup of their special cocktail mix, which was nothing special really, just blue powerade and beer I think. But strangely the powerade made the beer taste nice. Their sign up sheet asked us 4 or 5 questions that went along the lines of:

1. Are you lonely and want to meet people?
2. Do you like drinking? What's your tolerance?
3. Are you hungry?
4. Do you have lots of free time? Do you want to spend it drinking? 

If you ticked yes for question 3 you get a free 'CreamBle' cookie/biscuit thing from them.
Funnily enough the tent was managed by 4 girls, whilst the wine tent was managed by guys. Hmn...

I was going to apply for a cartoon drawing club, but unfortunately they packed up early and left the tent. Also tempted to join the badminton club, but their practice sessions were on Tuesdays, Thursday, and Saturdays from 6pm, which unfortunately didn't fit my schedule since my Korean classes don't end until 6.15pm and I prefer to have my Saturdays free. But the guy who tried speaking to us in English was friendly.

Having already signed up to one club got me excited to join another, so I joined the archery one because it sounded cool. I found out, upon asking to join at the tent, that it was incredibly popular amongst foreign students. This was confirmed by a friend who had a friend who joined it a few years ago. MT (drinking) was also a good point about this club as well haha!

[24/05] EDIT
Unfortunately none of the clubs had made an effort to message us foreign students about club activities. The drinking club for sure, but as for the archery club I feel that it's because I didn't make an effort to ask about booking appointments to learn archery...