Annual Korean Language Writing Contest for Foreign Nationals Sees 2,021 Participants from over 60 Countries

- Grand Prize for Poetry Writing: Ting Chen (China)
- Grand Prize for the Essay Writing: Yuri Kim (Belarus)

“The river of Hangul is flowing vividly and forever.” (Chen Ting)

To celebrate the 567th anniversary of the founding of Hangul during the Joseon Dynasty, Yonsei’s Korean Language Institute (KLI), held its 22nd Annual Korean Language Writing Contest for Foreign Nationals on Monday, October 7.  The event took place in the outdoor amphitheater on Yonsei’s Sinchon campus, and a total 2,021 foreign nationals, hailing from over sixty different countries, participated in the contest.  The theme for the Poetry Writing category was “River,” while “Memory” was used for the Essay Writing category.  Once the themes were announced, participants were given two hours to compose their poem or essay, most with the aid of smartphone dictionaries.  The grand prize for Poetry Writing went to Chinese student Ting Chen (Kyung Hee University), while Belarusian student Yuri Kim (Hanguk University of Foreign Studies) was awarded the top prize for Essay Writing.  Both of the grand prize winners received trophies, as well as ₩700,000 in prize money from the Korean Ministry of Sports and Culture.  Ting Chen’s poem compared Hangul to a flowing river in which fish swim, admiring its beauty and elegance.  In his essay, Yuri Kim emphasized that memory is not only a valuable asset, but, in a sense, life itself.  Through memory, he argued, we continue to remember Egyptian pharaohs, great artists, and our loved ones, allowing them to live again in our minds.  Other award winners included: Shimamura Nanami (King Sejong Celebration Award), Zhang Tian Ji (Woesol Award), Suda Ayumi (Hangul Society Award), Kuang Jun Jie (Humanities Research Center Award), He Xi (University Press Culture Center Award), and Shi Yue (Language Research Education Institute Award).  A total of 69 participants received prizes.  The Korean Language Writing Contest for Foreign Nationals was established in 1992 to commemorate Hangul Day and to promote the Korean alphabet throughout the world.  This year’s event was accompanied by a traditional Korean music performance, a talent show, taekwondo demonstration, and lottery drawing.