More Crowds Than Expected on Festival's First Day
Safety Concerns Lead to Restrictions on Outsiders and Leave-of-Absence Students
The Dongguk University festival 'Daedongje,' which attracted attention as the famous girl group 'NewJeans' was announced to perform on stage, has become embroiled in controversy. This occurred as the student council organizing the festival banned entry to outsiders after an overwhelming crowd gathered beyond their capacity to manage.
On the early morning of the 30th, the Dongguk University Festival Planning Committee posted an 'Notice of No Entry for Outsiders' on their official Instagram. The committee apologized, stating, "Due to an unexpectedly excessive crowd the previous day, the operation was not smooth," and added, "We judged that special attention was necessary for the safety of enrolled students and accident prevention."
They continued, "Fearing a large crowd, from today's festival onward, entry for outsiders will be prohibited," and "Further announcements regarding entry will be made later." It was later reported that the committee changed the operation policy to allow only students who registered for the first semester of this year to receive tickets and access the 'Student Zone.'
At Dongguk University’s festival 'Baeksang Daedongje,' the group NewJeans took the stage. [Image source=Dongguk University Instagram]
The sudden restriction on entry at the Dongguk University festival appears to be due to a much larger crowd than expected. Previously, Daedongje attracted attention not only from university students but also from fans of the artists by presenting a lineup featuring many famous singers. In particular, it became a hot topic as NewJeans and Day6 (Day6) were included in the lineup.
On the opening day of the festival on the 29th, the campus was packed as Dongguk University enrolled students, students on leave, graduates, and outsiders gathered. Some students expressed safety concerns by posting photos of the scene on university-related online communities.
One enrolled student lamented, "There are so many people outside. Is this right?" In another photo, a large number of people waiting in front of the playground fence were captured, prompting students to react with comments such as "There are an enormous number of people" and "This is legendary."
Ultimately, considering safety issues, the festival planning committee belatedly prohibited entry to outsiders. However, the committee's measures seem to have sparked controversy both inside and outside the school. Some netizens argued, "It's too much to suddenly ban outsiders when they also received tickets." There were also complaints from Dongguk University students on leave and graduates who were not allowed to enter the 'Student Zone.'
On the other hand, some voices defended the decision, saying, "Looking at the photos, it definitely looked dangerous. This was probably an unavoidable measure from the student council's perspective," and "Isn't it wiser to prevent problems early rather than letting it escalate into a major incident?"
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