A growing culture of wellness is taking root at the KDI School of Public Policy and Management (KDIS), where students are increasingly turning to sports and outdoor activities to maintain balance in a demanding graduate school environment.

Far from viewing physical activity as a distraction, students are embracing balling, cycling and hiking to stay focused, reduce burnout, and strengthen the very skills they will need in their future careers. With 17 voluntary sports and cultural clubs alongside seven regional and policy-focused forums, the school has fostered an environment where staying active is not an escape from studies, but a proven way to sustain the concentration and resilience required for well-being.

Bradley Ndibnu Beckley, representative of KDIS United FC and 2025 Master in Public Policy student, captures the mindset clearly. “I do not think students necessarily choose to participate in club activities as a way to escape from the library,” he said. “The primary motive is to physically exercise their love for the game. It empowers you in several different ways, and it enhances your understanding of the game as well as empathy and admiration of the professionals.”

The football club deliberately keeps the atmosphere inclusive and low pressure. “Even though football is a high-contact game with a focus on winning, at our club, we do not prioritise these,” Beckley explained. “We avoid high-intensity contacts, and winning is not the primary goal. The primary goal is to have fun and for everyone to feel involved.” That philosophy, he said, creates a simple but effective club vibe: “fun, respect, health.”

Beckley also notes how the teamwork on the pitch contrasts with classroom culture. “Team chemistry is a major part of football. Everyone tries to improve themselves and one another.” This collaborative spirit, he believes, builds bonds and mutual support that directly benefit students when they return to their policy analyses and group projects.

Jongsu Chae, representative of the KDIS Cycling Club and 2025 Master in Development Policy student, said Sejong’s location makes wellness easily accessible. “In Sejong, you only need to go a little outside the campus to find yourself surrounded by nature,” he said. “That easy access to greenery makes cycling a very attractive way to take a break”, without eating into precious study time.

Even during exam season, members keep riding. “Riding for one or two hours helps them reset. After cycling, they often return to their desks with much better focus and energy. It’s like pressing a mental refresh button,” Chae said. The physical discipline of tackling hills or headwinds, he added, translates directly into academic discipline: “That intense physical concentration clears their minds from academic stress.”

For beginners, the club removes intimidation by encouraging casual group rides. “We encourage students to simply ask in the group chat, ‘I’d like to ride this distance or path, anyone want to join?” Chae said. But the club goes beyond exercise; it functions as a space where strangers become friends while exploring Sejong’s less-discovered routes. 

Many outings end at riverside cafés rather than pushing for performance, making the activity feel like a social reset rather than hard training. Chae fondly described a magical stretch along the Geum River where fireflies appear in the summer. “I always want more students to experience that moment,” he said.

Esmeralda Lismet Taveras, representative of the KDIS Hiking Club and 2025 Master in Public Policy student, sees the trails as a space for deeper wellness. “KDI has a very focused and academically rigorous environment, so students naturally appreciate spaces where they can recharge while still feeling productive and engaged,” she explained. “What makes our club special is that it is not only about hiking; it is also about laughter, conversation, and feeling comfortable around others.”

After stressful weeks, the change in group energy is striking. “At the beginning, some stayed close only to the one or two people they already knew,” Taveras recalled. “But once the activity started, the energy shifted. By the end, during our usual conversation round, the group was much more open, engaged, and talkative.”

In a campus with international students from more than 80 countries around the world, hiking creates natural bonds that classrooms rarely foster. “During activities, students talk while walking, resting, sharing snacks, taking pictures, or simply laughing at the little challenges along the way,” she said. A deliberate closing conversation round ensures that even reserved students feel included and valued.

The hiking routes she curates go beyond the familiar urban paths and into quieter hillside trails around the Geumgang area, which she believes more students should explore. “Those routes are underrated,” she said. “They’re calm, they’re personal, and they help students breathe again.”

Across all the clubs, the message to beginners is consistent and reassuring. “It is about showing up, trying, and enjoying the experience at your own pace,” Taveras said. “No one is expected to be the fastest, strongest, or most experienced person there.”