National Korean Language Writing Contest for Foreign Nationals Held with 1,765 Participants from 72 Countries The Korean Language Institute of Yonsei University held the 18th annual National Korean Language Writing Contest on October 8 in at university’s Amphitheater, a day before the 563rd Hangul (Korean alphabet) Day (as to the undergraduate admissions essay exam was scheduled on the Hangul Day). Some 1,765 participants from 72 countries came to take part in the contest, including overseas Koreans and foreign nationals. The number of participants was the biggest in the history of the contest. Around 850 participants tried their skills in the contest in 11 overseas venues (10 Universities, 3 High schools) around the world, as well, including USA, Japan, Vietnam and Australia, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Yonsei KLI. Prof. Shin Myung-soon, Vice President for Academic Affairs, read the speech of encouragement on behalf of the university president: “Yonsei University will bring excellence of Korean language to the world and contribute to boosting Korea’s cultural prestige, as an educational institution practicing the spirit of loving Korean language.” A total of 69 participants received prizes, including 3 participants who received KLI Director’s prize. The contest also included performances by Yonsei’s student group for Korean traditional music group and Taekwondo representatives from Yongin University. Professor Jung Kwa-ri from the Department of Korean Language and Literature announced the criteria for the contest as assessing “how participants write clear, truthful, and beautiful writing in Korean.” The subjects for each writing category were “Fragrance” for poems and “Choice” for essays. Zheng Dan dan (Yonsei University) and Zhang Hyo ri (Soonchunhyang University) from China took the first place in each category. The awardees received awards and 700,000 Korean Won as rewards. In her poem, Zheng Dan dan expressed one’s self wandering to find fragrance metaphorically in 4 stanzas with titles of “fragrance of the spring,” “fragrance of beauty,” “fragrance of green tea,” and “fragrance of the world.” “I studied Korean very hard than everyone else,” Zheng said, “although it’s been only a year since I came to Korea” and “I think Korean language used by women is very beautiful.” Asked how she studied the language, she answered that she always had her earphones on with Korean language, and reading many Korean literary works really helped her. In her essay “A Number That Does Not Exist”, Zhang Hyo ri eloquently wrote about a heart of a girl who soothes loneliness and longing for home through her cell phone. “I was really into studying Korean language,” Zhang said, “saving each moment and second to study, though I’ve been here only a year”. “It was very hard to learn usage of adjectives,” she added, “but that was a reason why I became fascinated with the charm of Korean language.” Zhang wrote her story of why she chose to enter Korean university when she had to make choices, as well about the difficulties she had when her Korean was poor, in a rather honest tone. Zhang said, “‘a number that does not exist’ is a number of my last cell phone in China”. She is “now using a new cell phone as a university student in Korea.” The subject of her essay, choosing to come to Korea, came naturally to her, because it was the “most momentous and rewarding decision” of her life so far.