"We'll Just Have a Little Fun, Sorry"... Bittersweet Scene as Children Apologize Before Sports Day

Seeking Understanding from Residents Before Sports Day Due to Noise Concerns
Netizens React with "Bittersweet" to Video Shared on Social Media

"We are sorry! Please let us have a little fun today. Thank you."

As elementary schools across the country hold sports days in May, a video showing children gathered on the school field apologizing in unison to nearby residents before the event has gone viral online.

Before the sports day begins at an elementary school in Korea, students are seen apologizing in advance to nearby residents. Screenshot from Instagram 'super_tiger_'

On May 16, a video titled "These days, elementary school sports days start with an apology" spread across multiple online communities. The footage shows students gathered on the field at an elementary school, presumably just before the sports day begins, loudly shouting, "We are sorry! We are sorry! Please let us have a little fun today. Thank you."

The person who filmed the video, identified as A, commented, "Let the kids have their sports day," and added, "I heard there are so many complaints about elementary school sports days. It's bittersweet to see the event start with the children turning toward the apartment complexes and apologizing." A also wrote, "Back in my day, the whole family would come out, eat packed lunches, and it was a neighborhood celebration," and added, "Have fun, kids."

People who saw the video also expressed their regret. Comments included, "What a harsh world," "Why do kids have to apologize just for being noisy for a day?" "Is it normal for children to say sorry for having a sports day? It's sad and bittersweet," and "How can we talk about low birth rates in a country where even the sound of children playing at a festival is considered noise?"

Some commenters specifically mentioned the current real estate trend of preferring so-called 'Chopuma' (apartment complexes near elementary schools), criticizing, "So property values should rise, but you don't want to hear the sounds of a sports day?" and "It's an age of double standards. Elementary schools should be close, but not noisy."

In response, A explained, "The sports day was held without any parents in attendance, without playing any songs, and without raising the microphone volume. It lasted for exactly 2 hours and 40 minutes from 9 a.m. There were about 100 students, so it wasn't even that noisy. The sound in this video was the first and last time everyone shouted together, so it was probably the loudest moment."

A continued, "I don't know if the school or the event host told the children to apologize, but these days, raising children feels like being a criminal. Parents are doing their best to raise them to be as upright and healthy as possible, so I hope people can be a little more understanding."

A also added, "This isn't a prestigious school district, just a quiet and friendly neighborhood. The sports day was just for first and second graders, and when my child came home, they said, 'The White Team lost, but I had a great time.'" A concluded by saying, "Thank you for empathizing and sharing your feelings."

Meanwhile, it is reported that complaints to schools about noise from sports days are actually quite frequent. In response, schools distribute notices to nearby apartment complexes before the event, explaining that there may be noise and asking for understanding. To further minimize noise, sports days are now split by grade and held in the morning for just 2 to 3 hours, making it rare to see the entire student body participate together as in the past.