The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on Sept. 26 announced the 79 winning entries of this year's Talk Talk Korea, a global contest for Hallyu (Korean Wave). Shown is "The Light of Gwangbokjeol (Liberation Day)" by Vina Aulia Zakiah Sodikin from Indonesia, the first-place winner of a special category honoring Korea's 80th Liberation Day. (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism)

By Lee Jihae

Citra Auly Maulida Rizka from Indonesia has won first place in this year’s Talk Talk Korea, an annual contest highlighting Korean culture sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, for her entry "Hello!" in the promotional video category.

The ministry on Sept. 26 announced the 79 winning entries of the competition, which aims to share Korean culture with the world.

Marylee Loya from Mexico won the arts and crafts category for her kimchi-themed webtoon "Poem: The Kimchi Heart" about the spicy side dish, while Hai Anh Tran from Vietnam claimed the photobook category for "Seoul, I Came and Fell in Love," featuring her travel experiences in Korea.

Sara Mohamed from Egypt won first place in memes and trends for "My First Order at a Korean Cafe," her recollection of her experience at a cafe on her first day in Korea.

For this year's special category of the 80th Liberation Day, Vina Aulia Zakiah Sodikin from Indonesia won for "The Light of Gwangbokjeol (Liberation Day)."

A combined 76,296 works from 108 countries were submitted in this year's event, with 278 of them -- the 79 winning entries and 199 participatory award winners -- selected after professional screening.

"Although the topic was unfamiliar to the contestants, they showed a deep level of understanding of ‘liberation,’" the judging panel said. "Their works emphasizing the universal human values of as freedom and peace have resonated worldwide."

The first-place winner of each category earns a nine-day trip to Korea, and the grand prize recipient receives an award from the culture minister.

The winning entries were announced on Sept. 26 on the official website and social media accounts of Talk Talk Korea. They will be displayed from Nov. 4-8 at HiKR Ground, a cultural complex and tourism publicity center, in Seoul's Jung-gu District and at Korean Cultural Centers abroad.

The awards ceremony is slated for Nov. 8 to coincide with the K-Wave Festival.

 
jihlee08@korea.kr