Contest hosted by King Sejong Memorial Society; top prize 30 million won; over 600 winners to be recognized
A writing contest celebrating the spirit of King Sejong the Great and the value of hangul will be held this year to mark the 580th anniversary of the promulgation of Hunminjeongeum and the 100th anniversary of Hangul Day.
The King Sejong Memorial Society announced Wednesday it will host a book review contest centered on "Kingdom of Sejong," a historical novel by author Kim Jin-myung, in partnership with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Ministry of Education, the Hangul Society and more than 30 cultural organizations.
The contest is part of a "public reading project" aimed at addressing the socially pressing issues of declining readership and falling literacy rates. Organizers said the 580th anniversary of Hunminjeongeum and the centennial of Hangul Day made this year a particularly fitting occasion to carry forward the meaning of hangul's creation through reading and writing.
The top prize — awarded to first-place winners in the general and university divisions — is 30 million won ($22,300), with a total of 200 million won distributed among more than 600 recipients. The contest is divided into a general and university division and a student division covering elementary, middle and high school levels; the student division's top winner will receive the Minister of Education Award.
Schools will also receive support. Thirty schools — 10 each at the elementary, middle and high school levels — designated as "top reading schools nationwide" will each receive 2 million won in school development funds, for a total of 60 million won. The memorial society said it will select winning schools based on a comprehensive assessment of participation rates, in-school reading activities and individual award results.
Those wishing to enter must read Kim's two-volume "Kingdom of Sejong" and submit their entry through the official website or via the QR code on the contest poster. The submission period runs through Oct. 31.
The designated contest book, "Kingdom of Sejong," is Kim Jin-myung's latest work. Known for novels such as "Mugunghwa Kkoci Pieotseumnida" ("Rose of Sharon Has Bloomed," a thriller) and "Goguryeo" (a historical novel series), Kim uses novelistic imagination to explore King Sejong's revolutionary vision — his drive to overturn the fate of Joseon, which had been forced into submission to China, through the creation of Hunminjeongeum.
Winners will be announced Nov. 21, with the awards ceremony date to be confirmed. Full details on entry categories, submission length and other requirements are available on the official website.
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