FFF (21)- We're Going Streaking!!!!

If you haven’t caught on already from the overly exploited Old School movie quote, following graduation, Korean students like to go streaking.  For you old folk out there, this constitutes taking all (or nearly all) your clothes off and running through public streets.  And like in the U.S., this is illegal in Korea.

But why streak through the streets following graduation?  Yeah it might seem like an attempt for attention or just a way of expressing one’s elated state.  However, there’s a simple explanation for the disrobing: All Korean students are required to wear a uniform, specific to each school.

Following the졸업 ceremony, students have the freedom to do whatever they wish with their uniforms.  Some pass them on to siblings, some put them away in a drawer as memorabilia, others decide to publicly rip them off their bodies and express their freedom.  To each their own.

Now I’m not giving them high-fives for this, but I do think it’s pretty freaking hilarious.  Aside from the completely butt-naked streakers, I say let them run around in their skivvies.  Free will!  Underwear is just as revealing, if not more, than bathing suits.  And if they’re valiant enough to nakedly run haphazardly through the iced streets of South Korea, then props to them.  I have a hard enough time handling the cold with 4 layers on.  You go girlfriend/boyfriend!!

Anyway, I came across this fact as my teacher geared up, shortly following graduation, with five fellow teachers to patrol the streets of Songtan, South Korea, insuring that none of my little babies are half naked.  When first hearing this news I was literally shocked and asked her to repeat, making sure nothing got lost in translation.

But then I realized, I teach hormone driven teenagers, who will do anything to feel rebellious.  Luckily, no Jangdang Middle School students were found exposed post-graduation, otherwise that could make for a really awkward situation for both teacher and student.

Here’s the sole (no pun intended) English article that I found on the subject.  She explained that students partook in this last year up in Seoul, so it seems that this article missed out on a few naked bodies.  Enjoy!

Last Year's Streakers