By Lee Hana, Xu Aiying and Kim Young Deok
Photos = Arirang TV
April 17, 2017 | Paju-si

Talk! Talk! Korea 2017, a global contest that asks people around the world to creatively express their feelings about Korea, is back for the fourth consecutive year.

Last year, some 24,029 works of art were submitted by participants, hailing from 151 different countries. This year's contest, running from May 1 through June 24, is expected to generate even more buzz and excitement than previous years.

This year, there are a total of six categories: videos, photographs, online comics, illustrations, mobile communications & chat room art, and then PyeongChang 2018.

The new PyeongChang 2018 category was added this year in anticipation of next year's PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

The winner in each category will be awarded a grand prize, which includes a six day trip to Korea, a tour of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics and tickets to a K-pop concert.

The top three runners-up in the PyeongChang 2018 category will be awarded a plane ticket to Korea and tickets to the PyeongChang Winter Games.

Additionally, some 200 runners-up will have a chance to win laptops, digital cameras and other prizes.

All of the award-winning submissions will be displayed at exhibitions around the country starting 100 days before the start of the 2018 Winter Games.

"Every year, people from around the world have shown us what Korea means to them in the most creative of ways. This year, with the upcoming PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, we expect to see even more creative content generated by people from all around the world," said Director Oh Yeongwoo of the Korean Culture and Information Service (KOCIS).

"We hope that this contest will boost Korea's image overseas, and create buzz around the upcoming Winter Games in Pyeongchang," he said.

Participants can learn more about the competition and submit their works at the official website below.

www.talktalkkorea.or.kr



hlee10@korea.kr