Utah Gymnastics 2023 South korea international trip

The Red Rocks departed Salt Lake City on Monday, June 26 at 5:30pm to begin their journey to Incheon, South Korea. After over 15 hours of travel, the Utes landed in Incheon on Wednesday, June 28 at 4am local time.

After checking into the University of Utah Asia Campus dorms, the Utes ate breakfast and got some rest before taking on the first full day in South Korea.

Later, the Red Rocks walked through the U Asia Campus to get a first look at the gym.

The U Asia Campus closely resembles the Salt Lake City campus so that the students in Korea are familiar with the look and feel at home when they spend their senior year abroad in Utah.

Korean Traditional Tea Ceremony and Rice Cake Making

After a welcome orientation with members from the U Asia Campus, the Red Rocks were immersed into the Korean culture. After the team learned how to make rice cakes, they were taught about the history of tea ceremonies and how to properly perform the ceremony.

The first day was wrapped up with a delicious Korean BBQ dinner!

Thursday, June 29

The second day for the Red Rocks was spent by having free time in the morning and early afternoon before preparing for practice and teaching a masterclass.

After practice, the Red Rocks taught a masterclass to Korean gymnasts of all ages and skill level. Despite the language barrier, the kids and Red Rocks had a great time bonding over the sport they all love.

The Red Rocks returned to the dorms after a long day of gymnastics and spent the evening with more free time to tour Triple Street. The team did some shopping and ate dinner to wrap up the day.

Friday, June 30

The Red Rocks started the next day in South Korea running through a dress rehearsal of the show with the production crew in the morning.

Once the rehearsal wrapped up, the team was headed on a tour of Incheon, which began with a traditional Korean lunch at Songdo Hanok Village.

After a phenomenal meal, the tour guides took the team to a local bridge for photo ops and views of the city.

After a bus ride through the city and out to the Wangsan Marina, the Red Rocks were treated with time well spent on a yacht.

The gymnasts were happy to see the sun shining after spending yesterday in the rain!

The final stop of the Incheon tour came at Cafe Mieum, which overlooked the beautiful ocean. The team got coffee, lemonades, and an array of desserts to finish the tour.

Saturday, July 1

The Red Rocks were set for the South Korea Showcase. Behind new leotards and a couple thousand people, the gymnasts performed skills between bars, beam and floor, along with rapid fire tumbling to close out the event.

The Red Rocks also prepared a special dance for the crowd, performing to K-Pop music.

The Red Rocks performed in front of 15 Korean officials, which included Incheon city councilmen, business CEOs, and the IFEZ commissioner.

Also joining the event was the 2020 Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist on vault from South Korea, Yeo Seojung.

The Red Rocks wrapped up a successful showcase with photos and signatures for fans before having a team dinner and a night full of shopping!

Sunday, July 2

The final day of the trip began first thing in the morning and lasted the entire day. The team was off for a full tour of Seoul. The Red Rocks began their tour at the Dongdaemun Design Plaza and then made a short trip to the Namsan & N-Seoul Tower.

The team stopped at the Gyeongbokgung Palace and toured the grounds while learning history about Korean dynasties and culture. After the palace tour, the Utes went to Insadong Street for a final stop in Seoul. They toured the market and bought various snacks and food before the bus ride back to Incheon.

The Red Rocks began the long trip back home to Salt Lake City on Monday, July 3, filled with memories that will last a lifetime.

Thank you to everyone that had a part in making this trip happen! It was truly a once in a lifetime experience for the student-athletes and staff! Go Utes!

Appreciate