Where Colleagues Meet on the Court

As the sun rises earlier these days, the Seoul National University campus begins to stir long before the workday starts. On one recent morning, the sound of tennis balls echoing across the courts led to a group of staff members already deep into their morning practice. With rackets in hand, members of the SNU Staff Tennis Club were already deep into their morning practice.

"I'm Hong Sang Kyun, president of the Staff Tennis Club. I work in the Division of Construction, overseeing building construction, expansion, and renovation projects. I joined the club in 2012 and have been actively involved ever since. I took on the role of president last year," said Hong.

"I'm Kim Youngjun from the Institute of Environmental Protection and Safety, where I oversee safety management for research laboratories and university units," said Kim. "I joined the Staff Tennis Club last year, so I've been playing with the club for about a year and a half."

"I'm Kim Chul Sung from the Planning Division, where I work on campus planning," he added. "I joined the club in 2024, and I'm now in my third year. I've completely fallen in love with tennis, and I'm enjoying every moment of it."

From left: Hong Sang Kyun, Kim Youngjun, and Kim Chul Sung of the SNU Staff Tennis Club

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the SNU Staff Tennis Club. What began as a small gathering of staff members who shared a love for tennis has grown into a long-standing community that has brought colleagues together for nearly half a century. Remarkably, some members who joined in the club's early years remain active today.

"The club's origins date back to 1975, when a group of tennis-loving staff members formed a gathering called Hanmaeum Tennis Club," Hong explained. "The following year, members agreed to establish an official organization, and the current Staff Tennis Club was founded in 1976. One of the club's original members is still active today."

As interest in tennis has continued to grow, the club welcomed 16 new members last year and more than 20 this year. Today, around 80 members across the university regularly play tennis before work, after work, and on weekends.

"The club's signature event is our monthly tournament, held on the third Saturday of every month," Hong said. "Members are divided into groups and compete for rankings. Most of us spend the month preparing for that event through individual practice. On weekdays, members gather from 6:00 to 8:30 a.m., and on weekends from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m."

"The club also offers lessons for newcomers every Monday evening from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. I had always been interested in tennis but never knew how to get started," Kim Chul Sung recalled. "When I heard that the club provided lessons for new members, I decided to give it a try. Even if you've never played before, there's plenty of help to get you started."

A scene from the club's monthly tournament

Tennis is often seen as a sport with a high barrier to entry, requiring equipment such as rackets and tennis shoes, as well as time to learn the basics. That's why the Staff Tennis Club places the greatest emphasis on fostering a culture that encourages anyone who wants to give it a try to get started and stick with it.

"There are a lot of things to consider when trying to start tennis outside the university," Hong said. "Unlike some other sports, it can be difficult to begin simply by joining a club. Since differences in skill level can make it hard to enjoy matches together, many clubs require a certain level of ability before allowing new members to join. Lessons can also be costly, and courts are not always easy to find. That's why our club tries to make tennis accessible to anyone who has the will to try. We lend rackets and shoes to new members, and advanced players provide lessons themselves so newcomers can learn the sport and settle into the club."

Kim Chul Sung said the club's shared enthusiasm has helped him sustain the excitement he felt when he first started. "I began without knowing anything about tennis, but the members taught me with so much dedication that I found it more and more enjoyable," he said. "At first, I wondered how people could come out to the court even in the middle of winter, bundled up against the cold. Now I'm one of them," he added with a laugh.

Newcomers lessons held on Monday evenings

In fact, the three members come to the tennis courts at 6:00 a.m. almost every day, except when it rains, and play until 8:30 a.m. When asked what motivates them to overcome sleep and head to the courts so early in the morning, all three gave the same answer: the people.

"Through tennis, I naturally get to know people I might never have met through work," Kim Youngjun said. "A university runs on collaboration across many different departments, so the connections we build through sports often carry over into our work as well. One of the greatest appeals of the club is that it fosters a culture where colleagues support and encourage one another."

Kim Chul Sung also emphasized the club's culture of consideration. "When it snows heavily in winter, members come out one by one without anyone asking and clear the snow from the courts together," he said. "When someone is still learning, other members naturally step forward to help. In some outside clubs, beginners may feel excluded, but our club has a strong atmosphere of growing together. I think the culture of looking out for one another is one of its greatest strengths."

Hong added that hierarchy disappears on the court. "Although we're all university staff, our job titles don't matter once we step onto the court," he said with a laugh. "The best player is king. Everyone is on equal footing here, and the club is full of people who are passionate about what they love. That creates an incredibly positive atmosphere."

"When it snows, members come out one by one without anyone asking and clear the courts together."

This past April, SNU hosted the 30th Minister of Education Cup National Tennis Tournament for Staff of National and Public Universities. The tournament is one of the largest of its kind, bringing together around 560 participants from more than 40 universities across the country.

"The Minister of Education Cup is the biggest event of the year," Hong said. "It was especially meaningful for us this year because SNU hosted the tournament. The event took place over two days, with individual matches on Friday and team matches on Saturday. Since there were so many participants, securing enough courts was the biggest challenge. We needed at least 60 courts. We organized the tournament around two main hubs by using the Gwanak Campus and nearby tennis courts, as well as the Siheung Campus and nearby facilities."

For members of the Staff Tennis Club, the tournament carries special significance. Representing the university brings a strong sense of responsibility and pride.

"Because we compete under the university's name, we prepare more seriously than for any other tournament," Hong said. "The team event is especially challenging. Five doubles pairs-a total of ten players-compete together, and you need to win three matches to take the tie. One outstanding player isn't enough to carry the team. Everyone has to contribute. We won the championship in 2023 and 2024, finished as runners-up last year, and placed third this year."

Left: Ater winning third place in the team event / Right: Congratulatory banner for the team's achievement

After countless hours of practice and competition, each member has moments that remain especially meaningful.

"I first participated in the Minister of Education Cup last year, about six months after joining the club," Kim Youngjun said. "I partnered with Kim Chul Sung in the individual Green Division, and we placed third. I've tried many other sports, but it was the first time I achieved something in a tournament in such a short period of time, so it's an unforgettable memory. I think it was possible because the Staff Tennis Club provided an environment where I could learn and grow. I'm also proud that I've improved enough to now help teach lessons to new members."

For Hong, the most memorable moment was SNU's first team championship in 2023. "In the final, we faced Kangwon National University, a team we had never beaten before, and won 3-0," he recalled. "When the championship was confirmed, the players and the members who had come to cheer for us embraced one another in celebration. I still remember it vividly. We all ran around together, shouting SNU cheers. I don't think I will ever forget that moment."

SNU's first team championship at the Minister of Education Cup National Tennis Tournament for Staff of National and Public Universities in 2023

The time spent exercising every morning has become part of their daily lives, and tennis has had a meaningful impact on each of them.

"Because my work involves handling laboratory accidents and safety-related issues, there is often a high level of tension," Kim Youngjun said. "Tennis has helped me relieve a lot of that stress. In matches, sometimes you win and sometimes you lose. Going through that process itself helps me manage my mindset. I feel that tennis has made me healthier not only physically, but mentally as well."

Kim Chul Sung admitted that getting up early is not always easy. "To be honest, it's tough getting out of bed and heading to the court at dawn," he said. "But once I finish playing, I always feel recharged. My mind is clearer, and the stress just melts away. It helps me enjoy both work and home life much more. Tennis has been so good for me that I've become something of a 'tennis evangelist'-I'm always telling everyone I meet to give it a try."

Hong said tennis has taught him the value of consistency. "Tennis is a sport that requires steady effort," he said. "You don't improve overnight, so your daily habits naturally begin to change, and you start taking better care of your body. Through years of playing tennis, I've been able to maintain a regular routine and develop the habit of setting goals and working toward them consistently. Tennis has taught me that diligence matters not only in sports, but in everyday life as well."

From left: Kim Youngjun, Kim Chul Sung, and Hong Sang Kyun

The members' stories reflected the positive energy of a community united by a genuine love for tennis. As a final message to members of the SNU community who have yet to pick up a racket, the three offered words of encouragement.

"When I joined SNU in 2014, a senior colleague once asked me to play tennis, but I didn't," Kim Chul Sung said. "Exactly ten years later, in 2024, I finally started-and I regretted not starting earlier. I found myself thinking, 'I should have started back then.' So I hope others won't have the same regret. If the thought of trying tennis ever crosses your mind, I encourage you to give it a chance."

"It may feel a little difficult at first," Kim Youngjun said. "But if you knock on the door of a university club or community, you'll be able to start much more comfortably."

"Tennis is a sport where you build your skills step by step," Hong said. "If you want to see yourself gradually grow, I highly recommend it"

"See you on the tennis court!"