Kyung Hee University Festival Sparks Controversy Over Strict Student Verification Amidst NCT DREAM & WOODZ Performances

As the autumn university festival season reaches its peak, Kyung Hee University's festival has unexpectedly become the center of a heated debate.

While the lineup, featuring popular idols like NCT DREAM, NCT WISH, and WOODZ, generated massive external fan interest, overly stringent student verification measures implemented by the university ended up inconveniencing the students themselves.

The Kyung Hee University Student Union operated a 'student-only zone' at the front, enforcing double and triple authentication checks including ID and student card verification. However, criticism erupted on student community forums like Everytime after some staff members reportedly asked obscure campus-specific questions such as, "You're from the international campus, right? What does 'Jeonggeon' mean?" or created a tense atmosphere by stating, "Over 50 'killer questions' have been prepared."

Furthermore, the situation intensified with reports on social media of fans waiting in tents or attempting to acquire student IDs through second-hand transactions. Consequently, many actual students were unable to enter on time, leading to the peculiar sight of the 'Open-Air Theater' (student zone) not being fully occupied even after the main artists began their performances.

Student opinions were divided. Some argued that strict verification was natural for a festival intended for students, while others criticized the measures for hindering actual students and pointed out the absurdity of failing the verification process as a student. Online comments expressed a sense of disappointment, with some humorously noting that the 'entrance verification' became more intense than the festival itself.

The Kyung Hee University autumn festival ran from September 30th to October 1st, with a lineup that included artists such as Daesung, IFEYE, NCT WISH, NCT DREAM, WOODZ, and ILLIT.

Netizens expressed bewilderment, commenting, "The entry process is harder than the festival itself, what is going on?" and "I'm a student here and almost got kicked out." Fans of NCT noted the extreme measures taken by some to attend.