Costly Pop Festivals at High Schools in Gangnam

A school festival held at a high school in Gangnam… With a number of pop stars invited as guest stars, the school became crowded with many students, and the police was later dispatched to the scene. Some 2,000 young students stayed late at night despite rains and enjoyed fireworks, creating noise in the neighborhood.

Some high schools in Gangnam area have thrown costly high-profile festivals since late August this year. Running for chairpersonship in students` councils early in March this year, students were rushing to make a pledge of having a wild fun party, in fact.

Yet, what is shocking is that some members of students` councils asked private institutes to be sponsors of their costly parties. Although schools denied high costs, saying pop stars were there out of good intention, Donga Ilbo reporters found that private institutes nearby in fact made contributions.

A high school that threw a festival on August 30 reportedly spent 25 million won. The students` council insisted that they mobilized some 10 million won out of their pockets and funds allocated for council activities, with the rest contributed by private institutes nearby. ˝6 million won out of the total was used to invite pop stars,˝ said a member of the council.

Another high school in the area also lured sponsors for their festival. ˝Members of the council formed 25 groups and ended up with luring 25 sponsors,˝ said a member of the council. ˝A chairperson is judged by the number of sponsors the school get.˝

Meantime, students` exhibitions and concerts were allocated with little money and lured only a small number of participants and spectators.

˝It might be fun and good for relaxation to enjoy pop stars` performances, but it is not good for students to focus too much on such events,˝ said a high school teacher.

˝We head the rumors and conducted an investigation, but found no evidence,˝ said an official at the Seoul Education Board. ˝Students running for chairpersonship seems to make a pledge of a pop festival since such events could add points to college entrance tests.˝

mungchii@donga.com podragon@donga.com