When the sun sets and darkness falls there are more people on the street than during the daytime. People are busy strutting along the street. It seems that people are drawn into the entertainment districts where the latest songs are continuously coming out from under the brightly-lit electric signs, and there is a smell of cooking meat on the air. In spite of it not being very late, young drunk people stagger along the street and many people are wandering in small groups conversing. Some meet their friends, some eat dinner, some drink, and some return home holding books in their arms. All these people coexist in what is called ‘Dae hak ga’.

All these sights can be seen nearby almost all universities. Ironically, for the most part, representative and popular amusement quarters in Seoul are developed near university towns. Other university towns in Korea have similar areas as Seoul’s. So, we are all unconsciously familiar with the idea that ‘Dae hak ga equals to amusement center’. These amusement towns near universities are crowded and fly in the face of business analysts who predict the worst business conditions in history. On this account there is talk that ‘Dae hak ga has no depression’. University towns are discolored not only with many bars but also other places which have no relation to an atmosphere conducive to academic pursuit. In this way, university towns which should be a paradise of intelligence and great learning, are being encroached upon by places of eating, drinking and make-up.

A poll of around 200 University of Seoul (UOS) students showed that 145 of them agreed with the inappropriate environments of the university town. They answered that many university towns in Korea are located in ill-matched places for study. “When I was a high school student I had a chance to take a field trip to popular universities with friends. Before leaving, I was full of expectation to feel the special antique atmosphere and grave attitude toward great learning, but when I finally got there I was totally confused. I found the reality quite different from what I had imagined. It is because I couldn’t find an exact boundary between places of amusement and the university.

So I couldn’t even find the school gate at first because it was surrounded by a lot of stores.” said Han Ji-hye (School of Business Admistration 07’). The UOS is no exception. According to the results of research, 75% of students answered that our environment is not conducive to great study. “Although our university town has few bars compared with others’ our environment seems like a village rather than university town. I was really surprised that there is no bookstore near a University of Seoul apart from one in the Student Hall. I think the facilities for studying really are insufficient.” said Jin Bo-ra (School of Business Administration 07’).

Recently there is trend that many other universities have actively pursued to protect and voluntarily develop healthy environments. The Ewha Women University, which is famous for its street of fashion, organized a campaign to petition against the construction of a new fashion mall. Also there has been action to protect Sinchon taken by the Yonsei University, the Sogang University, the Hongik University, the Ewha Woman University etc. Students and professors joined a peace march to hold a picket called ‘Intelligence in Sinchon and romanticism in the university town’ and ‘Against commercial space infringing on educational space’. They marched across from Sinchon Hyundai department store wearing white dress to represent the innocent will of the university. Such campaigns are voluntarily held by students. For this reason, there is no objection and the reaction of other students is also good.

Environment is really important in having the whole atmosphere of students and university at one’s beck and call. And places nearby the university are the most frequently used by students and they spend most of their time there when they study. The university town is not only a part of the local area but also a space for students. For this reason students should take strong interests in the internal problem of their university and also in external circumstances. So, the university town should be protected and developed by the students’ own initiative with affection for their own space. There is also another side to university space. They said there is also merit in not having to go far when we want some break time. But the center of intelligence and learning should not be destroyed by amusement.
저작권자 © The UOS Times(서울시립대영자신문) 무단전재 및 재배포 금지