Busandaehak-ro No Longer Embracing the Campus Culture

Pusan National University (PNU) student A (Dept. of Psychology, 21) joined a band club in A’s college and organized a performance at a pub located in Busandaehak-ro last year. The club paid a considerable amount to use the venue for the event, but A wasn’t very satisfied due to the outdated facilities. Student A said, “The space was cramped, and due to the non-operation during the COVID pandemic period, there were issues with the sound system, such as the aging microphone. As there weren’t many spaces for performance in Busandaehak-ro, I didn’t have much choice.”

Once known as the “mecca of performances” centered around indie bands from the 1990s to the 2000s, the reputation of Busandaehak-ro has long faded. Nowadays, clubs in PNU express frustration over the lack of stages near PNU. It seems that the campus town fails to embrace campus culture.

From October 12th to November 20th last year, “Channel PNU” conducted a survey and asked 150 youths in Busan about their perceptions regarding “the accessibility of spaces for PNU clubs and young people to perform in Busandaehak-ro” . 60% of the respondents said that it was “insufficient,” with 8% stating it was “very insufficient.” Only 28% found it “adequate,” while “sufficient” and “very sufficient” were each 2%.

Due to the lack of stages, central clubs at PNU are facing difficulties. Kim Jong-Wan (Dept. of Physics Education, 18), the 35th president of the PNU dance club, “UCDC,” stated, “There are not enough places to perform in Geumjeong-gu, including Busandaehak-ro. It’s regrettable that although there are many band clubs in PNU, only a small number of them can showcase their performances due to the shortage of stages.”

As a result, PNU clubs are venturing out to places where it’s easier to secure stages. According to Kim, UCDC primarily performs at locations such as the Haeundae Busking Zone, Gwangalli Busking Zone, Seomyeon Sangsangmadang, and Asiad Main Stadium. The profits earned from external performances are all used to secure stages near PNU. By performing externally and earning money, they can afford to set up stages near PNU. Kim emphasized, “We maximize the opportunities for performances as much as possible, using the money earned from external performances to create our own stages on campus.”

One of the main reasons why PNU clubs lost their stage for performances was the discontinuation of regular performances in front of the main gate since 2013. Since the 1980s, there had been a steady stage in front of the main gate of PNU where students showcased dancing, singing, and theater performances. However, with the opening of the NC Department Store in 2012, complaints about noise from performances at the main gate escalated. In response to that, the General Students’ Association and the Club Association resisted under the slogan “NC Department Store must guarantee students’ performance at PNU main gate” (reported by PNU Newspaper on October 14th, 2013). However, performances at the main gate have been discontinued since 2013.

This coincided with the job crunch. Also, the indie band culture gradually disappeared, making privately operated live pubs lose their grounds and establishing standardized commercial areas in Busandaehak-ro since the 2010s (reported by “Channel PNU” on March 1st, 2024).

Despite the lack of suitable stages, club activities are always referred to as the “flower of university culture.” Student A said, “Even if the performances cannot be perfect, performances that reflect the efforts of club members are the essence of campus culture.” Kim Jung-Sub (61), who operated the live cafe “Pictures at an Exhibition” and the live pub “Interplay Club” since 1993, witnessing the cultural activities of PNU students, stated, “As university students, one should be able to meet diverse people, share cultural thoughts, and have various experiences both in the academic field and performing arts.”

In the current situation, which lacks stages for performances, students engaged in club activities emphasize the need for communication with organizations that can assist in providing stages. Shin Hee (Dept. of Media and Communication, 20) of PNU Drama Club, which planned the “Autumn Performances Arts Festival” last year to revitalize club activities at PNU, said, “It would be beneficial if networks were established to facilitate smooth communication between club and organizations like the Geumjeong Foundation For Arts & Culture.”

There is also a recognition of the need for PNU to take the lead in making efforts to provide club stages around the campus. As student cultural activities are closely linked to youth culture and can influence individuals’ career paths, there is a need for university-level deliberation. Lee Yil-Lae (Prof. of Sociology, PNU) said, “Universities need to transform themselves into places that provide more opportunities and experiences for students to create their own lives. It’s important to secure spaces in a way that guarantees students’ autonomy and creativity to make campus culture blossom.”

※Channel PNU Special Report Team: Yoon Da-Gyo, Choi Yoo-Min, Choi Sun-Woo

Reporter Special Report Team

Translated by Lee Soo-Hyun