KOREA, an English-language magazine published by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, has won the iF Design Award of Germany in the branding and communication category. (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism)

By Margareth Theresia

KOREA, an English-language monthly published by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, has won a prize from the prestigious iF Design Awards.

The ministry on Feb. 26 said its publication, which promotes Korean culture from multifaceted perspectives, won the prize in the Branding & Communication category.

The awards' official website said, "Rather than simply covering popular content, it examines the context and roots of Korean culture formation, effectively conveying the excellence and image of the 'Republic of Korea' brand."

"KOREA is defined as a public communication medium that enables anyone to experience Korean culture in an accessible and emotional way, going beyond mere information delivery."

Launched in 1953 in Germany, the iF Design Awards are considered one of the world's top three for design along with the Red Dot Design Award also of Germany and the International Design Excellence Awards, aka IDEA, of the U.S.

Over 10,000 entries from 68 companies this year competed in nine categories including Branding & Communication and User Experience. The international jury of 129 members assessed design innovation, communication efficiency, social influence and user experience to select the winners.

"This award is recognition on the international stage of KOREA's competitiveness in promoting Korean culture overseas," said Lee Eun-bok, director-general of the ministry's Global Public Relations Bureau. "Our ministry will keep expanding our nation's brand value through creative content and design."

margareth@korea.kr