Korean College Graduation Ceremony

I had the privilege of being invited to one of my close friend’s college graduation yesterday and had the chance to experience a Korean college graduation ceremony.

Korean graduation ceremonies are VERY different from American ones. While the ceremony concept is borrowed from the west, it has been very much streamlined in typical Korean fashion.

In the US, graduating from high school and college is a big deal, and we hold a graduation ceremony to celebrate it. For high school, students are lined in alphabetical order, are called up to stage by name, shake hands with the important people, and have our photo taken. In college, we’re separated by department and major, but have the same concept as high school graduation. For both, everyone is seated and quiet while serious orchestra music plays in the back ground. Once the ceremony concludes, there are cheers, perhaps some balloons dropped and hats thrown.

Think of a Korean graduation ceremony as something akin to a conveyor belt of this same western tradition.

Korea does separate students by department, but that’s about it. When a Korean student’s department is called, the graduating students line up single file. Unlike the US, they are not alphabetized, but rather just line up. When students walk on stage, most are goofing off and taking pictures with their friends much different than the seriousness presented at American ceremonies.  They go up to the stage, with their diploma already in hand, hand that diploma to the president of the university, have their diploma handed back, hand shake, rinse and repeat with all other important university figures. No name calling or official diploma receiving.

While this is happening, they have a live orchestra playing music. While watching my friend, I listened to several songs. These songs included: the Mexican hat dance, Russian dance music, and the music you hear while on a merry-go-round.  The list of odd music goes on, but the songs are nothing like you would expect at a traditional American graduation ceremony.

As for seating, think of chaos. At the front, the seats are sectioned off by department, but no one is sitting there. Instead, everyone is up and about chatting with friends and taking pictures. When my friend was trying to find us a spot to sit, she brought us up to the school department sectioned seating. At first, I refused to sit, fearful of being rude, but then looked around and saw that everyone else was doing it.

Once all students have “graduated”, a choir comes out, everyone stands, they sing the school song, some other song/songs are sung, and the ceremony is complete.

Once the ceremony is complete, like all graduations, you go outside and take pictures. Everyone smiles, they throw their hats up, and give each other congratulations on college finally being complete. You then go and return your cap and gown for the next batch of graduates.

While different, Korean graduation ceremonies, if invited, are quite the sight to see.

** Like in the US, make sure to bring the graduate some flowers as a small congratulatory gift.