The 26th World Korean Language Speech Contest for Foreigners, held on the 17th at Kyung Hee University's Crown Hall in Seoul's Dongdaemun District, concluded successfully.
The grand prize, recognizing the "strongest" in Korean language skills, was awarded to 24-year-old Tak Yadana Khin from Myanmar. She expressed her surprise, stating, "I never expected this result, and I still can't believe it. I take this as motivation to continue improving my Korean. My dream is to work for institutions like the National Institute of the Korean Language or the King Sejong Institute, so I will keep striving."
Tak's speech, titled "The Republic of Cafes in Korea," resonated with the audience as she shared her personal experiences. She described Korean cafes as extensions of personal space and places for creating memories, highlighting the importance of cafes in Korean culture.
The contest was co-hosted by Yonhap News Agency, the nation's key newswire service, and the Institute of International Education at Kyung Hee University, with support from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the National Institute for International Education.
In the finals, 16 participants from 11 countries presented on either "What Korean Language Means to Me" or "What I Recommend About Korea." While most finalists were international students, participants also included teachers and developers working in Korea.
The judging panel was chaired by Professor Kang Hyun-hwa from Yonsei University's Department of Korean Language and Literature. Other judges included Lee Dong-chil, Deputy Head of Yonhap News Agency's Global Korea Division; Lee Myeong-gwi, Head of Kyung Hee University's Korean Language Education Division; and celebrities such as Lee Seon-ho, Rich, Daniel Lindemann, and Sami Rashad (Korean name: Jeong Semi).
The World Korean Language Speech Contest for Foreigners was first held in 1998 to commemorate the 600th anniversary of King Sejong's birth (1997). In its inaugural year, the contest attracted 56 participants from 11 countries. Over time, participation has grown, with more than 1,000 participants each year since 2009. To date, the contest has drawn a cumulative total of 18,000 participants.
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