Models pose with “Korea Univ. bread” (L) and “Yonsei Univ. bread” in this photo provided by CU.
SEOUL, May 23 (Korea Bizwire) — The rivalry between Yonsei University and Korea University has extended to the shelves of CU outlets, with a new competition arising after the convenience store chain started selling baked goods featuring the names and logos of these universities.
The rivalry between these two colleges, founded over 100 years ago, has persisted since Japan’s colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula. Since 1926, they have competed in five different sports during the annual Korea-Yonsei derby.
CU partnered with Yonsei University in January of last year to launch a milk cream-filled bun.
Riding on the immense popularity of the product, it also collaborated with Korea University in November to release an apple jam puff pastry.
An analysis of the sales data from CU stores in Seoul during the January to April period of this year revealed that the “Yonsei Univ. bread” had the highest sales in Sinchon-dong, while the “Korea Univ. bread” was most popular in Anam-dong.
These areas house the Yonsei and Korea University campuses, and the sales of these two pastries were driven by students and local residents.
The neighboring areas also exhibited a clear conformity effect. Yeonhui-dong (No. 1) and Seokyo-dong (No. 5), which are adjacent to Sinchon, ranked among the top ten districts in terms of Yonsei University pastry sales.
Jegi-dong (No. 2), Yongsin-dong (No. 3), and Jongam-dong (No. 8) were included in the list of top 10 districts based on Korea University pastry sales.
Seoul’s major educational districts, where private academies are concentrated, also displayed strong interest.
Yonsei University’s pastry gained popularity in the Gangnam area south of the Han River, including Daechi-dong (No. 6), Yeoksam-dong (No. 8), and Samseong-dong (No. 10), while Korea University’s pastry was favored in the Gangseo and Gangbuk districts, including Mok-dong (No. 7), Jongno 1-4 ga-dong (No. 9), and Noryangjin-dong (No. 10).
The rivalry between these two colleges, founded over 100 years ago, has persisted since Japan’s colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula. Since 1926, they have competed in five different sports during the annual Korea-Yonsei derby. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
J. S. Shin (js_shin@koreabizwire.com)
