In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, many young people in Seoul found themselves increasingly isolated and unsure of their role in the community. To help restore those social bonds and encourage youth participation in solving local issues, the Seoul Metropolitan Government launched the Seoul Club ON Project this year. The initiative supports university student clubs that use their skills, talents, and creativity to make meaningful contributions to society.

Through the program, selected clubs receive up to 2 million won in activity funds—or up to 5 million won for joint club projects—to design and implement community-oriented programs. When applications opened in March and April, the response was overwhelming: 228 university clubs applied, and 114 were ultimately selected to carry out their projects between June and November. These student groups now work across diverse fields—ranging from culture, sports, safety, and environmental protection to social welfare—partnering with local institutions and residents to bring positive change to their neighborhoods.

One of the participating teams is Eoui Archery Club from SeoulTech.

Every Saturday afternoon, the members head to the Gongneung Youth Culture Information Center in Nowon-gu, where they run the “Youth Gukgung School,” introducing and teaching traditional Korean archery, Gukgung, to local children.

Members of the Eoui Archery Club introduced Gukgung in the first session on August 16.

Members of Eoui Archery Club shared their experiences teaching Gukgung through this program, and how they hope to continue growing their program in the future.

Q. What led you to participate in the Seoul Club ON Project?

A. The project seemed like an appealing opportunity to create a volunteer program for our Eoui Archery Club. We thought it would be a great way to extend our activities beyond campus and use our skills and passion for archery to make a positive impact, and this program provided the perfect platform to do that.

Q. How did the existing club activities connect with the goals of the project?

A. As a Gukgung club, we’ve always aimed to share the spirit of archery and promote traditional culture among students. Through this program, we found a new way to express our identity—by teaching Gukgung to young people in our community and helping them discover the cultural and personal values embedded in this traditional sport.

Q. What are some of the challenges or lessons while teaching Gukgung to children?

A. Teaching Gukgung to young children is definitely a challenge. We have to manage their safety, short attention span, and physical limits. But seeing their faces light up as they shoot an arrow is incredibly rewarding. Even if they don’t continue practicing Gukgung long-term, it feels meaningful to give them a positive, memorable experience with this unique part of our heritage.

Q. What’s next for Eoui Archery Club after this project?

A. We are planning to expand the program to include international students and others who wish to take it at SeoulTech in the future. By sharing Gukgung with a more diverse group of people, we hope to show that traditional sports can still be vibrant, inclusive, and deeply relevant today.

Reporters

Myungjae Lee

swk08085@seoultech.ac.kr

Jieun Park

pk325382@g.seoultech.ac.kr

Reporter 이명재

• 직책 :
• e-mail : swk08085@seoultech.ac.kr

박지은 기자

• 직책 :
• e-mail : pk325382@g.seoultech.ac.kr