"Wearing Graduation Caps and Receiving Diplomas in Cars" University Graduation Ceremonies Also 'Drive-In'

[Asia Economy Reporter Seolgina Jo] As the impact of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) prolonged, a unique scene unfolded where students wearing graduation caps and their parents attended university graduation ceremonies while seated in their vehicles. Diplomas were also awarded in a 'Drive-Thru' manner, similar to purchasing a hamburger.

KT and Hongik University announced on the 21st that they held a ‘Drive-In Graduation Ceremony’ to capture the feelings of students who had been waiting for their canceled graduation ceremonies due to COVID-19. The ceremony, held at Hongik University's Seoul campus sports field that morning, was attended by graduates and their parents seated in their vehicles. The graduation ceremony included a congratulatory stage performance created by musical actor Nam Kyung-joo, a professor in the Department of Performing Arts, along with current students, a Drive-Thru diploma awarding ceremony, and a graduation cap ceremony by the graduates.

As the prolonged COVID-19 situation led to the cancellation of university graduation ceremonies in the first half of the year and made the status of the second half ceremonies uncertain, KT and Hongik University prepared a unique graduation ceremony considering 'social distancing' for students who had been eagerly awaiting their first step into society.

The entire graduation ceremony was broadcast live through the official YouTube channels of Hongik University and KT. Graduates, parents, friends, and acquaintances who could not attend in person were able to join the ceremony online. Additionally, a large electronic display installed at the front of the venue showed images of students and parents attending the ceremony from their respective spaces.

Yang Woo-seok, President of Hongik University, said, “We prepared a differentiated graduation ceremony unique to Hongik University using non-face-to-face Drive-In and online methods in collaboration with KT for the canceled 2019 academic year degree conferment ceremony. We hope this will be a special and meaningful time to express the regrets of graduates finishing their studies during the COVID-19 pandemic and to celebrate each other.”

Park Hyun-jin, Executive Director of KT Customer Strategy Headquarters, said, “This year, we conducted university graduation ceremonies that could not be held due to COVID-19 in a safe non-face-to-face manner, and we hope that warm comfort and encouragement were conveyed to the graduates stepping into society. We will continue to discover non-face-to-face content that can overcome the COVID era.”

Since April, KT has been running the non-face-to-face communication series ‘Maeum:TACT (MaeumTact)’ as part of the ‘Expressing the Heart’ campaign. It continues to hold non-face-to-face events for various groups, including engaged couples whose weddings were postponed, university freshmen whose orientations were canceled, market vendors waiting for customers, high school seniors preparing for entrance exams, and university students wanting to enjoy campus festivals.