On September 5, The 2026 Yongin Clean University Sports Festival for Youth Policy was first held at the Yongin Arpia Sports Center

On September 5, the 2026 Yongin Clean University Sports Festival for Youth Policy, featuring five universities in Yongin Special City(YSC): Kangnam University, Kyung Hee University(KHU), Dankook University, Yongin University(YIU), and Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, was first held at the Yongin Arpia Sports Center. This event was organized as a venue for harmony and exchange between the universities and YSC, going beyond mere sports matches.

The First Step Toward Government-University Co-prosperity

This sports festival was designed not simply to hold an athletic competition but also to share youth policies and promote co-prosperity between the government and universities. At the opening ceremony, YSC Mayor Lee Sang-il explained the purpose of the event, stating, "This college sports festival was initiated entirely based on the suggestions of you, the youth." He also promised a support plan for YSC students. Lee mentioned, "We will make efforts to create more quality jobs by successfully advancing the semiconductor project so that you can continue your activities here in Yongin." Following this, KHU Vice President Lee Eun-yeol encouraged the participating students, saying, "Regardless of winning or losing, I hope you build friendships, fully enjoy your radiant youth, and take home great memories."

 Yongin Mayor Lee Sang-il is delivering congratulatory remarks at the opening ceremony

Meanwhile, Kim Min-sung, president of the General Club Association at KHU, explained the background of the university's participation. "I felt that the KHU Global Campus had not established regional governance as well as the Seoul Campus," Kim said, noting that they decided to participate in the event to provide students with more opportunities, such as employment, start-ups, and extracurricular activities, through cooperation with YSC.

A Heated Venue of Exchange Integrating Hip-hop and Sports

Immediately following the opening ceremony, various performances and athletic matches added to the excitement of the venue. Rap-in, the central hip-hop club of the KHU Global Campus, got off to a powerful start with an energetic performance. Jeon Jeong-ho, president of Rap-in, shared his thoughts, saying, "It was a great and meaningful opportunity to perform hip-hop in front of other students and the general public.”

Rap-in's hip-hop performance

In the subsequent soccer match, FC CIVIL, a soccer club from the College of Engineering, represented the university. Recalling the match against YIU, a school renowned for its physical education, Lee Jung-min, the club's president, said, "We strategized to play as defensively as possible and induce the opponent's mistakes, but they were truly strong." With various events like strategic tug-of-war taking place, Lee added to the meaning of harmony, stating, "It was great to interact and become closer with students from other universities in the YSC through the medium of sports, which was an opportunity we had rarely had."

 A soccer match between KHU and YIU (Photo: Courtesy of Kim Min-seong)

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From Policy Quizzes to Future Visions, A Strengthened Regional Network

Living up to its slogan, "A sports festival that promotes youth policies," the event also featured a youth policy and nonsense quiz competition, embracing students who did not participate in the athletic matches. Kang Mi-jeong, an official from the Youth Policy Division of YSC, stated, "We planned this festival by adopting a project proposed by the public relations subcommittee of the 5th Yongin Youth Policy Network in 2025." Kang explained that the city designated its 2026 youth policies as the scope of the quiz so that approximately 70,000 college students in the city could naturally learn about administrative policies.

While the city's commitment to communicating with the youth through active quiz participation stood out, the universities and the local government promised sustainable co-prosperity moving forward. Kim expressed his anticipation, saying, "While the first event started as an university sports festival, I heard there is a willingness to expand the event into academic and financial fields in the future," urging students to actively utilize the city's policies. Kang also presented a vision, stating, "We plan to expand support by investing more budget into jobs, housing, and education sectors in the future, and develop this into a youth cultural festival that can encompass even more college students."

The Future of the Region and Universities Shaped by Youth

Illuminated by the sweat and passion of the youth from five universities in YSC, including KHU students, this Yongin Clean University Sports Festival for Youth Policy served as a successful platform for communication. Beyond mere friendly exchange, this event, which allowed participants to share cultures and directly engage in policies, will establish itself as a solid stepping stone for creating a local youth cultural ecosystem and fostering cooperation between the local government and universities.