K-Meet RU

K-pop, Taekwondo, Dalgona and traditional Korean games filled the Raffles University Atrium as 105 students and teachers from Yeosu Petrochemical High School joined the RU community for an afternoon of cultural exchange.

What happens when K-pop, Taekwondo and Korean games arrive on campus at the same time?

On 21 August 2026, the Raffles University Atrium found out there was K-pop music, Taekwondo demonstrations, the famous Dalgona candy challenge and Gonggi, the traditional Korean five-stone game. It looked simple enough, until it was time to have a go. Behind all that energy was a cultural exchange bringing together the RU community and 105 students and teachers from Yeosu Petrochemical High School. Officially titled K-MEET RU: Cultural Exchange, the programme turned an ordinary afternoon at the Atrium into an opportunity to experience Korean culture through games, crafts, music, performance and, most importantly, participation. For an afternoon, a little taste of Korea had arrived at RU.

First, Watch. Then, Have a Go.

Following welcome remarks from university leadership, visiting representatives and JPT delegates, the afternoon quickly moved from introductions to participation. Names began appearing in Hangeul as participants tried Korean calligraphy. Traditional fans and miniature Hanoks became canvases for decoration, while Maedeup lucky knot bracelets brought another traditional craft into the mix.

Then, there was the Dalgona. Nearby, Gonggi presented a different kind of challenge, inviting participants to try their hand at Korea’s traditional five-stone game.There were other discoveries along the way. Traditional pattern tattoo stickers added a playful touch, personal colour analysis offered a glimpse into contemporary Korean beauty culture, while a Chwitadae instrument workshop introduced participants to another side of Korean cultural tradition. And then came the performances. K-pop brought the energy. Taekwondo brought the precision. Together, the activities turned the familiar Atrium into a lively space for experiencing different sides of Korean culture. But beyond everything there was to see and try, something else was taking place.

Some Things Need No Translation

Writing a name in Hangeul. Trying a traditional Korean game. Making something by hand. Watching a performance together. Each activity offered a different way to experience Korean culture, but it also gave students something to share. For Raffles University students and their Korean counterparts, these shared experiences created opportunities to interact beyond formal introductions, practise language skills and exchange cultural perspectives. Sometimes, cultural exchange does not need to begin with a long conversation. A game can create an opportunity to interact. A craft can give people something to experience together. A performance can be enjoyed across languages. And somewhere between the K-pop, Taekwondo, Dalgona and Gonggi, cultural exchange became less about introducing one culture to another and more about experiencing something together.

For one afternoon, the Raffles University Atrium felt a little different from usual. Perhaps that was the point. Raffles University extends its appreciation to the students and teachers of Yeosu Petrochemical High School, the Student Representative Council (SRC) and everyone who helped make the cultural exchange possible.