Graduates in Korea abandon yearbooks for Instagrammable campus photo shoots
A snapshot of an Ewha Womans University graduate taken by photographer Camengzzi / Captured from Camengzzi's Instagram
Korean university students are abandoning collective yearbooks for a personalized photo trend. Graduates are now hiring freelance photographers for photo shoots designed to be displayed on social media. The shift is driving a run on university mascot merchandise and hurting traditional campus photographers.
A Hankook Ilbo review of three Seoul graduation ceremonies Monday and Tuesday revealed a sharp increase in these customized sessions. Graduates are bypassing classic portrait lines to strike choreographed poses with mascot dolls against flower beds and auditoriums.
Campus grounds resemble outdoor photo studios. Students search social media and online campus forums months in advance to book freelancers who match their visual aesthetics. Friends and family frequently assist during these shoots to hold belongings and direct poses.
"I thought, 'Do I really need a graduation album?' so I didn't apply," said Ahn Ho-hyun, 25, a University of Seoul graduate. "I chose a snap photo shoot to make memories with my girlfriend and family."
Trinh, a 25-year-old Vietnamese international student, smiled brightly for the camera. "I really wanted to take these because they are great to post on social media," she said.
Trinh, a Vietnamese international student in a graduation gown, takes a snapshot at the University of Seoul in Dongdaemun District, Tuesday. Korea Times photo by Na Min-seo
Students praise the customized approach. "Our major is individualistic, so an album filled with unknown faces felt meaningless," said Cheon Su-bin, 24, at Ewha Womans University. "The big advantage is choosing a photographer who fits my taste."
Cheon paid 150,000 won ($104) for a 90-minute session. The shift toward individual shoots has overwhelmed on-campus souvenir shops. Graduates consider mascot plushies essential props, leading to severe inventory shortages on graduation days.
Lee Kwon-jae, 20, a University of Seoul student, said he couldn't purchase a doll for a senior because the store sold out. A campus official said weekly stocks of 500 to 600 dolls sell out immediately.
Graduate Pyun Hae-chan poses with a university mascot doll during a commencement ceremony at the University of Seoul in Dongdaemun District, Tuesday. Korea Times photo by Na Min-seo
Parents largely accept the change. Lee Woong-jae, 58, the parent of a Hanyang University graduate, called yearbooks unnecessary given the abundance of modern photo locations. "Seeing other students taking snap photos makes me want to book one for my daughter," he said.
Another parent, Choi Kwang-young, 58, called the transition slightly sad from a nostalgic perspective but said he respects the changing times.
Graduates take commemorative photos ahead of a commencement ceremony at Hanyang University in Seongdong District, Seoul, Tuesday. Korea Times photo by Na Min-seo
However, the trend is hurting traditional photographers who roam campuses offering instant portraits. Jung Young-jin, 65, who has worked ceremonies for 45 years, said his workload plummeted to "not even one-hundredth" of past levels.
The institutional impact is concrete. The Ewha Womans University Graduation Preparation Committee recently launched a survey to determine whether to permanently abolish graduation albums after facing a sharp drop in applicants.
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.