Yongsan Old Photo Contest

Photo Contest on 'Natural Scenery,' 'Cultural Heritage,' 'Lifestyle,' and 'Buildings' from 1900s to 2000s to Understand Residents' Lives and Culture and Establish Regional Historical and Cultural Identity

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Yongsan-gu (District Mayor Seong Jang-hyun) will hold the 'Yongsan Old Photo Contest' until August 31.

The contest aims to understand residents' lives and culture through photographs and to establish the historical and cultural identity of the region.

The submission target is photos of Yongsan-gu taken between the 1900s and 2000s, depicting scenes filled with history and atmosphere such as ‘natural landscapes (scenery)’, ‘cultural heritage (tourist attractions)’, ‘daily life’, ‘festivals’, ‘buildings (old buildings)’, and ‘alleyways’.

The work size must be 4 inches × 6 inches (film) or at least 3000 pixels (digital).

Anyone nationwide, including foreigners, can apply, and up to 3 entries per person are allowed. However, only one winning entry per person is permitted. All photos must be submitted as original files, and required documents besides the work include an application form and a consent form for the provision and collection/use of personal information. Forms can be downloaded from the district website under the District News (News) section.

A district official said, “Photos from old albums and faded photos in drawers are all eligible,” and added, “Please fill in detailed information such as shooting date (year), location, title, and photo description on the application form to assist in judging.”

Submissions must be made to the Public Relations Officer at Yongsan-gu Office (8th floor) by 6 p.m. on August 31. Digital works (JPEG files) can also be submitted via email to the person in charge (swallow22@yongsan.go.kr).

The district will select winners through a judging committee in September. The judging criteria (tentative) include the historical value of the photo, empathy of the subject, originality of expression, and usability.

There will be 26 awardees: 1 Grand Prize, 2 Excellence Awards, 3 Encouragement Awards, and 20 Honorable Mentions, receiving cultural gift certificates worth 100,000 to 500,000 KRW and certificates from the district mayor. However, if the photos do not meet a certain standard, some or all awards may not be given.

Some of the winning works will be publicly exhibited at a district exhibition around November. The exhibition period and location will be announced separately.

Seong Jang-hyun, Mayor of Yongsan-gu, said, “Our daily lives become history,” and added, “Through the Yongsan Old Photo Contest, we will secure precious records from residents and utilize them as local historical materials.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.