Hoho Gymnasium, a project dedicated to promoting the right to participate in sports for university custodial workers, has entered a new chapter. Beginning this year, the SHRI has joined Cultural Action's Alternative Sports Association as a co-organizer.
While this brings greater responsibility, we are proud to contribute to expanding sports and human rights through meaningful civic engagement.
This year, following last year's successful programs, line dancing continues at Sogang University, while table tennis returns to Sungkonghoe University. At Seoul National University, due to venue availability issues, the sports program has temporarily been replaced with a special lecture on the Alexander Technique, with regular sports activities scheduled to resume in the second semester.
Now, let's hear from one of our student facilitators about the first class of the semester!
๐ Hoho Gymnasium Table Tennis Class at Sungkonghoe University
By Choi Yeni (Student Group for Addressing Labor Issues at Sungkonghoe University)
On 13 April, Hoho Gymnasium's table tennis classes resumed at Sungkonghoe University! ๐ It has already been a year and a half since the university's custodial workers and students first became part of the Hoho Gymnasium community.
Even during the semester break, when classes were temporarily suspended, many of the custodial workers repeatedly called the student organizers to ask when the table tennis sessions would begin again. Their enthusiasm showed just how much everyone had been looking forward to the program's return. Once the classes resumed, lunchtime on campus became lively again as custodial workers and students gathered to play together.
The students had wondered whether the workers might have forgotten the skills they had learned over the break or become a little rusty. Those concerns quickly disappeared. The custodial workers immediately fell back into comfortable rallies, and their improved skills even surprised the new table tennis instructor. Seeing how naturally everyone played together filled all of us with pride.
We hope that one day, sport will become more than a lunchtime activity squeezed into a busy work schedule. We dream of a future where recreational sport is recognized as a meaningful part of custodial workers' everyday lives. We look forward to workplaces that guarantee workers the opportunity to enjoy leisure and physical activity, where exercise and movement can be embraced not as a luxury, but as an ordinary part of life.
๐๐ผ Hoho Gymnasium Line Dance Class at Sogang University
By Jeong I-dam (Nogojiri, Human Rights Action Group at Sogang University)
Hoho Gymnasium has been running programs at Sogang University since the first semester of 2024. In 2024, participants enjoyed volleyball, and beginning in 2025, the program transitioned to line dancing. This semester's class brings together 13 union members and two to three student volunteers. Around ten of the participants have been with us since last year, while several new union members have joined the program for the first time.The growing number of new participants is thanks to the positive word-of-mouth surrounding the line dance classes. Many of the new members told us that they had decided to join after hearing about the program from fellow union members. It was both rewarding and encouraging to see how much the classes have been appreciated.
During the first session, participants learned a dance to "Going Blonde." The choreography focused on alternating toe and heel steps, requiring more intricate footwork than the basic walking-style movements often used in line dancing. Some participants found the challenge exciting and refreshing, while others found it difficult to keep up. After discussing it together, everyone agreed that lowering the level of difficulty would allow all participants to enjoy the class more comfortably. Line dancing is, above all, a dance performed together. We came to realize that being mindful of one another's abilities and experiences is what makes dancing together truly enjoyable.
In 2025, the group performed at the Women's Union's Annual General Meeting. It was a memorable experience, and many participants later shared that it had become one of their happiest memories of the year. Preparing for the performanceโexperimenting with more expressive movements, finding steps that felt comfortable, and discussing ideas togetherโwas just as enjoyable as performing itself. We hope there will be opportunities to perform again, whether on campus or at public rallies, creating more meaningful memories together. Above all, however, our greatest hope is that the line dance classes will continue to be a source of joy and energy for everyone involved, making each day on campus a little brighter.
Hoho Gymnasium, a project dedicated to promoting the right to participate in sports for university custodial workers, has entered a new chapter. Beginning this year, the SHRI has joined Cultural Action's Alternative Sports Association as a co-organizer.
While this brings greater responsibility, we are proud to contribute to expanding sports and human rights through meaningful civic engagement.
This year, following last year's successful programs, line dancing continues at Sogang University, while table tennis returns to Sungkonghoe University. At Seoul National University, due to venue availability issues, the sports program has temporarily been replaced with a special lecture on the Alexander Technique, with regular sports activities scheduled to resume in the second semester.
Now, let's hear from one of our student facilitators about the first class of the semester!
๐ Hoho Gymnasium Table Tennis Class at Sungkonghoe University
By Choi Yeni (Student Group for Addressing Labor Issues at Sungkonghoe University)
On 13 April, Hoho Gymnasium's table tennis classes resumed at Sungkonghoe University! ๐ It has already been a year and a half since the university's custodial workers and students first became part of the Hoho Gymnasium community.
Even during the semester break, when classes were temporarily suspended, many of the custodial workers repeatedly called the student organizers to ask when the table tennis sessions would begin again. Their enthusiasm showed just how much everyone had been looking forward to the program's return. Once the classes resumed, lunchtime on campus became lively again as custodial workers and students gathered to play together.
The students had wondered whether the workers might have forgotten the skills they had learned over the break or become a little rusty. Those concerns quickly disappeared. The custodial workers immediately fell back into comfortable rallies, and their improved skills even surprised the new table tennis instructor. Seeing how naturally everyone played together filled all of us with pride.
We hope that one day, sport will become more than a lunchtime activity squeezed into a busy work schedule. We dream of a future where recreational sport is recognized as a meaningful part of custodial workers' everyday lives. We look forward to workplaces that guarantee workers the opportunity to enjoy leisure and physical activity, where exercise and movement can be embraced not as a luxury, but as an ordinary part of life.
๐๐ผ Hoho Gymnasium Line Dance Class at Sogang University
By Jeong I-dam (Nogojiri, Human Rights Action Group at Sogang University)
Hoho Gymnasium has been running programs at Sogang University since the first semester of 2024. In 2024, participants enjoyed volleyball, and beginning in 2025, the program transitioned to line dancing. This semester's class brings together 13 union members and two to three student volunteers. Around ten of the participants have been with us since last year, while several new union members have joined the program for the first time.The growing number of new participants is thanks to the positive word-of-mouth surrounding the line dance classes. Many of the new members told us that they had decided to join after hearing about the program from fellow union members. It was both rewarding and encouraging to see how much the classes have been appreciated.
During the first session, participants learned a dance to "Going Blonde." The choreography focused on alternating toe and heel steps, requiring more intricate footwork than the basic walking-style movements often used in line dancing. Some participants found the challenge exciting and refreshing, while others found it difficult to keep up. After discussing it together, everyone agreed that lowering the level of difficulty would allow all participants to enjoy the class more comfortably. Line dancing is, above all, a dance performed together. We came to realize that being mindful of one another's abilities and experiences is what makes dancing together truly enjoyable.
In 2025, the group performed at the Women's Union's Annual General Meeting. It was a memorable experience, and many participants later shared that it had become one of their happiest memories of the year. Preparing for the performanceโexperimenting with more expressive movements, finding steps that felt comfortable, and discussing ideas togetherโwas just as enjoyable as performing itself. We hope there will be opportunities to perform again, whether on campus or at public rallies, creating more meaningful memories together. Above all, however, our greatest hope is that the line dance classes will continue to be a source of joy and energy for everyone involved, making each day on campus a little brighter.