Members of student cheerleading club Mei Hua strike a finishing pose during a practice session.
Photo: Charles Ian Chun
With the popularity of K-Pop dancing, it should be no surprise cheerleading has also caught on in Korea. A student cheerleading club at Kangnam University, however, only started last year. Mei Hua, Chinese for “plum blossom” was started by Soo-jung Kim, a 2nd-year Practical Chinese Studies major with the help of her professor Kwang-hee Park, so Chinese majors could have a performance club of their own.
Mei Hua has seventeen members who practice every Wednesday and Friday in the activities room below Shim Jeon Hall 1. The work is difficult but enjoyable. “It’s fun,” says 2nd-year student Jisu Oh. “It’s a good way to meet new people and get exercise.”
“But it’s hard to match up our schedules,” adds Kim, “And since we don’t get support from the university, we have to do everything ourselves.”
Mei Hua performs regularly. Students can see them next on Thursday May 12 in the Little Theater in Education Hall at an event to celebrate Teacher’s Day.