한국국제교류재단

My research is about the socialization of university students, and how someone attending university becomes a "university student." I have focused on Seoul National University (SNU), which is more like what we call in France "Grande Ecole," a prestigious school of university level with a competitive entrance examination. As a student and researcher at SNU, I am positioned to observe my own socialization, and have also discovered different "cultural" forms.

"Bomb drinks" and Games
A favorite distraction of Korean and the world student population alike is much the same: alcohol. One of the central attraction for students at SNU is "Nokdugeori," an alcohol or drinking quarter that offers all distractions and necessities for Korean students: restaurants, bars, karaoke, PC rooms, bookshops, beauty and hairdressing salons, etc., all of which serve to underline some cultural and historical preoccupations.

After classes, to relax and have fun, student groups meet in the early evening to share a meal in a restaurant, or have a drink at a bar. A group of students will go to 2-4 bars, and perhaps a karaoke or billiards place in between, in one night. During the evening, the beer flows, and everybody at any moment will clink glasses; this seems to be the easiest way for the students to externalize themselves, and to further develop group cohesion. This drinking culture is sustained by games (the loser has to drink), for which students have to use memory, speed and immediate reaction, as well as dexterity, all of which are quickly altered by alcohol. The spiral reaches its highest point when students make so called "bomb drinks"―mixtures of alcohols such as beer and soju (a distilled clear liquor made from rice)―and then play another game. I invite you to guess what the topic of communication and discussion becomes at this point!

Individualism, Competition, and "Clubs"
If individualism in SNU seems to be marginal, it is nevertheless a reality. SNU is not so integrative as it would first seem. Students still do conform to the traditional pursuit of excellence, and they do so with a strong sense of competition.

One particularly intriguing example of social behavior showing the difference between apparent socialization and actual integration is the phenomenon of "clubs." A club, d by students who share common interests, classes, or any number of factors, will welcome new members during the semester, but the new members rarely merge into the nucleus, which is made up of older members. Community spirit is somehow also an individualist one, operating through small, closed and independent groups. To develop one's own social network, one would not rely on this community but on oneself―by increasing one's activities and contacts, for example.

Social Networks and Human Relationships in University
In Korean society, as it is in student society, social networks are very important. The social network at SNU, I believe, has its drawbacks however, as entering into one club requires that a person leave a part of their private life and a part of their personality behind in order to reap the advantages of being a group member. A member of one community is also less likely to interact with a member from another community.

In addition, the relationship between female and male Korean students is not simple, and can be traced back to gender division in middle and high school. If young men and women develop strong feelings for each other, university can indeed be a complicated matter. "Things are changing," but Confucianism is still dominant, and encouraged by the requirement of military service for Korean males.

If the life of SNU freshmen can be summarized in part by classes, "MT" (Membership Training: an orientation trip to strengthen relationships between members of a club or a department), drinking, games, singing rooms, studying, and club activities, we must not lose sight of the fact that although SNU students studied successfully for the university's entrance examination, they still have to study competitively during their university years. Many students also have the additional responsibility of working, usually giving private lessons, to acquire a certain kind of financial autonomy.

Korean university students are seemingly reproducing―with of course some modern additions, particularly the feminisation of most male distractions―what their ancestors like the yangban (noble class) were doing; that being studying, drinking, and spending pleasant time with friends.