Open to all residents in South Korea, the contest accepts photos or videos of up to 60 seconds — 30 winners to be selected in total.
Korea Rural Community Corporation, led by President Kim In-jung, announced it is hosting the 8th Fish Passage Photo and Short-Film Contest, with submissions open through Oct. 5. The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, led by Minister Hwang Jong-woo, is sponsoring the event.
A fish passage is an ecological corridor built into rivers to allow fish to move upstream and downstream past artificial structures such as weirs, estuary dikes and submerged barriers. These passages play a key role in restoring inland aquatic ecosystems and fishery resources.
Submissions are being accepted from Tuesday through Oct. 5 via the National Fish Passage Information System website (www.fishway.go.kr). Any individual or team of up to three people residing in South Korea — Korean nationals and foreign residents alike — may enter.
Entries should capture the beauty and importance of fish passages through photographs or short-form videos of up to 60 seconds. Starting this year, participants may use generative AI tools to produce short-form videos, provided they disclose that fact within the video itself.
The corporation plans to review submissions in November and select 30 winners, including one grand prize, three excellence awards and six merit awards. Winners will receive a combined prize pool of 10 million won ($7,180), along with citations from the minister of oceans and fisheries and the president of Korea Rural Community Corporation.
Choe Chang-seok, head of the corporation's fisheries and fishing village division, said the corporation is the country's only specialized fish passage agency and is committed to improving fish passage functions and raising public awareness. "We hope this contest, through works reflecting diverse perspectives, will serve as an opportunity to spread wider appreciation for the beauty and importance of fish passages," he said.
kkm9971@heraldcorp.com
