It all started on the morning of October 9th. The SeoulShare managers and event hosts gathered at Joseon Salon in KOTE, one of our partners, to discuss upcoming events. As the meeting was about to wrap up, Hariyanto, our CTO and event organizer, raised his hand and asked, “Are we going to throw a Halloween party?”
Party… a Halloween party. We had one two years ago, and it was a huge success, with over 100 attendees, costume contests, and lots of fun. However, it also required significant effort from the organizers, who dedicated their time and energy to make it happen. The idea of having another Halloween party this year had come up before, but no one wanted to take on the responsibility of hosting, so we decided against it. Yet here it was again, back on the table.
“Hariyanto, I think we decided not to do it last time because it takes a lot of effort, and no one wants to be the main host,” I said.
Billy, one of our event organizers, jumped in. “Maybe we can keep it really simple. Do it here at KOTE, and just announce the time and date without any special additions?”
“Well, if it’s just a matter of posting an event notice, there’s no reason not to do it. Let’s go for it then,” I agreed.
And just like that, the almost-cancelled event found new life in the final moments of the meeting. Hariyanto and Billy kind of ended up as the event hosts—more accurately, just posting the notice. But as often happens, what starts off as a simple plan can quickly grow into something much more. The group chat for the party was created, artists offered to perform, and even the Halloween-themed decorations—initially considered unnecessary—were back on the agenda.
Things started to grow, and along with it, so did the chaos. Our managers and organizers are all volunteers, with no obligation to listen to each other—everyone just does what they want. We all have our unique traits and ideas, which might be why we’re willing to work hard on something like a Halloween party without compensation. We’re proactive individuals, but ironically, that sometimes makes it harder for us to work together. And here I also came in. I was becoming more opinionated about the party as well. I had initially objected to hosting it, but once it was decided, as the founder of the community, I felt a sense of responsibility. I voiced my thoughts on gifts for the costume contest and other aspects, which only added to the chaos—exactly what I had feared. Without a main point of control, things could fall apart. That’s why I was hesitant about hosting the party initially, without a main host to oversee everything from planning to execution.
Where there’s a will, there’s a way. Isabelle, one of our managers who couldn’t attend the meeting at KOTE, joined the planning team at the right timing. With her strong leadership and organizational skills, things finally started to get back on track. She frequently met with Hariyanto and Billy to ensure progress, and her clear guidance allowed the two talented hosts to shine.
What began as a simple gathering grew into a full-blown party. SeoulShare caps were prepared as gifts, and many fun activities were added, including artist performances, tarot readings, face painting, and photo ops. We even had an experienced MC for the event—Billy! A few hours before the party, our volunteers arrived at the venue and transformed it into a spooky, fun haunted house with all the decorations and trick-or-treat candies.
And finally, the party started. Despite being a paid event, more than 50 people attended, each in their own unique costumes. We talked, drank, ate, and enjoyed the performances, workshops, and activities together. We even danced like crazy until midnight.
But what truly moved me wasn’t the party itself—it was seeing how our SeoulShare team worked together and pulled off such an amazing event driven purely by passion. There were times during the planning when we argued and felt disappointed, but we all shared a common goal and had the passion to reach it. Seeing how that passion, when well-organized, could create something like tonight’s event—that was the most touching part for me.
