Yon-Ko Games Cheer Songs

Yon-Ko Games Cheering Song Guide — From Aria of the People to I Love You, Yonsei

There is a saying that people don't go to the Yon-Ko Games (referred to as Ko-Yon Games by Korea University) just to watch sports. Most students from both universities keep their eyes glued to the cheerleading podium rather than the scoreboard, standing throughout the entire 90-minute matches to sing over thirty cheering songs. If you don't know the lyrics and corresponding choreography, you will find yourself left out even if you are seated right inside the stadium.

The 2026 annual varsity games took place across two days on Friday, October 2, and Saturday, October 3, with Korea University clinching the overall championship with 3 wins and 2 losses. This marked Korea University's second consecutive overall victory following their 2025 win. For other campus festivities around the same period, check out the Fall University Festival Schedule.

2026 Game Results and Schedule

The opening ceremony commenced at 10:00 AM on October 2 at Jamsil Baseball Stadium. The decisive match of the tournament was rugby on day two. Trailing 7-8 after the first half, Korea University staged a thrilling second-half comeback to win 35-11, securing the overall championship title. Yonsei University salvaged pride in the subsequent football match, securing a 2-1 victory courtesy of a late second-half game-winner. Midway through the fourth quarter of the opening day's basketball game, thunderous chants of "We won!" echoed from the Korea University cheering section, filling the gymnasium. Exact schedules for the 2027 games should be verified through upcoming official university announcements.

A Tale of Two Cheering Styles

While both cheer squads maintain repertoires exceeding thirty songs, only a handful survive the test of time each year. According to Yonsei cheer squad archives, roughly three to four new songs are composed annually, but only three or four manage to stay in the permanent rotation over a five-year span.

Korea University — Essential Anthems

Aria of the People (민족의 아리아) Universally acknowledged as Korea University's undisputed centerpiece anthem. During the annual games, there is a signature moment when thousands of students sing the second-verse chorus completely a cappella, utterly overpowering the stadium's sound system. For first-time visitors, this breathtaking scene is almost always the most unforgettable memory.

Forever Alongside Aria of the People, this anthem is regarded as one of the school's "twin pillars." Set to the melody of Finnish power metal band Stratovarius's track of the same name, it features university-specific lyrics and is often performed with grand orchestral arrangements during major events.

Listen, Look, and Remember (들어라 보아라 그리고 기억하라) Adapted from the ending theme melody of the animated film Castle in the Sky. The core choreography requires entire interlocked rows of students to bow forward and lean back in unison during specific bars, meaning staying in lockstep with the person beside you is everything.

Declaration of Departure (출사표) Built around the theme song of Pirates of the Caribbean. Featuring rapid-fire shouts of "Eo-i!" paired with large, energetic physical motions, this ranks among the most physically demanding songs in the entire repertoire.

Boat Song, Für Elise, and Sunset Glow (뱃노래 · 엘리제를 위하여 · 붉은 노을) Für Elise serves as the traditional kickoff track to open cheering sessions, while Boat Song is belted out whenever a point or goal is scored. Sunset Glow is iconic for the visual spectacle of the crowd rhythmically waving crimson plastic bags in the air.

Yonsei University — Essential Anthems

I Love You, Yonsei (연세여 사랑한다) The quintessential anthem representing Yonsei University, typically sung to close out games and campus rallies. It is by far the most widely recognized Yonsei tune, even among non-students and the general public.

Cheering Song Adapted from Yun Dong-ju's Poetry Anthems incorporating verses by the revered poet and Yonsei alumnus Yun Dong-ju also attract significant outside interest. These tracks offer a uniquely lyrical, poetic, and reflective atmosphere seldom found in collegiate sports chants.

Victory Song & Under the Sky (승전가 · 하늘아래) These are considered the flagship anthems during joint cheering rallies. True to its title, Victory Song is deployed when Yonsei is ahead on the scoreboard or as a rally cry to seize momentum.

Yonsei Cha-Cha & A Cup of Memories (연세차차 · 한잔의 추억) Yonsei Cha-Cha is adapted from Jessica Jay's "Chilly Cha Cha" (2000), while A Cup of Memories borrows its melody from Lee Jang-hee's legendary track of the same name. These are songs whose source materials have been officially confirmed and credited by the Yonsei cheer squad. The musical arrangements are largely produced in collaboration with the on-campus rock band club, Sonagi.

To the End of the Sky (하늘 끝까지) A fan favorite famously sung on stage alongside the crowd by ZEROBASEONE during Yonsei's 140th Anniversary Festival in June 2025. It remains an indispensable fixture in joint cheering sessions.

Quick Anthem Guide — Song Titles and Original Tracks

Original tracks are listed only when verified through university cheer squads or official public documentation. All other entries remain unconfirmed.

Sunset Glow's instrumental track is known to blend rock versions by YB and Younha, though today's university students are often most familiar with BIGBANG's iconic remake.

Tips for Following the Choreography

While university cheering choreography looks somewhat like K-pop cover dancing, the fundamental goal is different. Perfect technique matters far less than matching the rhythm of the person next to you.

1. Master the arm-in-arm shoulder-lock sections first. Many songs require an entire row to move as a single organism; falling out of step disrupts everyone around you.
2. Watch the cheerleaders on stage and feel free to follow along half a beat behind. In reality, almost everyone in the crowd does the exact same thing.
3. Choose wide-angle, full-frontal practice videos. Wide shots capturing the entire stage make it much easier to understand formations and transition cues than single-member fancams.
4. Memorize the signature vocal shouts ("Eo-i!", university chants) before the actual lyrics. Nailing the synchronized shouts alone instantly makes you feel part of the experience.

Cheer squad stages differ fundamentally from competitive stunt cheerleading. Rather than acrobatic flips and human pyramids, the primary mission is to coordinate thousands of spectators into unified motion. For coverage of competitive sport cheerleading, visit the dedicated Cheer section.

How to Enjoy the Games as an Outsider

Seating inside the venues is prioritized for enrolled students of both universities and allocated strictly via student ID verification. Tickets available to general visitors vary by sport and venue, and are exceptionally scarce. If you cannot attend in person, here are the three best ways to take part:

Joint cheering rally videos, usually clocking in around 30 minutes, alternate between signature hits from both universities and serve as the ideal primer. The Part 3 video from this year's joint rally gathered Victory Song, Für Elise, To the End of the Sky, Forever, I Love You, Yonsei, and Aria of the People all in one continuous showcase.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it Yon-Ko Games or Ko-Yon Games? Both are technically correct. Yonsei students say Yon-Ko Games, while Korea University students refer to it as Ko-Yon Games. In public search volume, Yon-Ko Games appears more frequently.

Where can one learn the cheering songs? Enrolled students learn them during freshman orientation events early in their first semester. For non-students, official cheer squad channels and joint rally performance clips offer the most reliable reference material.

What happened during the COVID-19 pandemic? All in-person cheering rallies were suspended across 2020 and 2021. Following their resumption, the choreography for several songs was streamlined for accessibility.

Sources: Korea University Business School — 2026 Annual Ko-Yon Games Results · Yonsei University — 2026 Annual Yon-Ko Games Announcement · Yonsei University Cheer Squad Anthem Information · Korea University 2026 Annual Ko-Yon Games Schedule Notice · 2026 Korea Univ. & Yonsei Univ. Joint Cheering Rally Part 3 Video · Korea University Cheering Songs (Namuwiki) · Yonsei University Cheering Songs (Namuwiki)