While the opening ceremony took place in the evening, activities had already begun by the afternoon. Over the course of the festival, activities will begin similarly and continue into the night. This has led to numerous noise complaints by both Anam residents and students over the course of previous festivals.

 

In response, Korea University Student Association (KUSA) has adopted several countermeasures to reduce the noise level during the week. Rehearsals and soundchecks for various performances throughout the week have been limited to interludes between classes, and sound systems on substages such as the one in Hana Square have been throttled. According to [중앙집행위원장] Lee Cubbin, KUSA is “continuously looking for ways to take additional precautions [against excessive noise].”

The festival’s name “KURAYON” is a syllabic play on the word “crayon,” and signifies the colors that punctuate various aspects of people’s lives. The keynote of this year’s Granite Tower Festival, according to the information booklet, is to “find different colors,” “find your color,” and “respect all colors.” The booklet is available at the KUSA information booth, located near the center of People’s Square on all days.