Chosun University Successfully Concludes COVID-19 Disaster Experience Essay Contest

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] The Disaster Humanities Research Project Group at Chosun University (Project Director Professor Kang Heesook of the Korean Language Department) announced on the 26th that the "1st Disaster Experience Essay Contest," held to record and share experiences of the social disaster "COVID-19 infectious disease," has successfully concluded.

This contest was promoted to collectively seek ways to overcome the "COVID-19" crisis that shook everyday life and to document the vivid voices from disaster sites.

The contest, held from the 13th of last month to the 9th of this month, saw a total of 133 participants. The participants were diverse not only in region and age but also in nationality, drawing attention.

The contest categories were essays related to daily experiences of COVID-19 (such as memoirs, diaries, letters), with themes including ▲direct experience with COVID-19 (confirmed cases, self-quarantine, medical and administrative aspects), ▲economic difficulties or unemployment, ▲changes in personal and family daily life, ▲changes in school (university) life and educational settings, ▲social distancing and social interactions, ▲community spirit and civic dignity, and ▲other stories participants wished to share.

As a result of the judging, the project group announced 20 awardees: ▲Grand Prize to Woo Sojeong ▲Excellence Awards to three people including Lee Yunseo ▲Merit Awards to six people including Han Ji-hye ▲Encouragement Awards to ten people including Jeong Nakmin.

The Grand Prize-winning work by Woo Sojeong depicted in a memoir the situation and emotions that arose when a mother and daughter, living with an ailing grandmother, became subject to COVID-19 self-quarantine and could not care for the grandmother. The work was praised for its realistic and immersive narrative.

The Excellence Award-winning work by Lee Yunseo calmly recounted anecdotes involving parents working in the travel industry struggling during COVID-19 and an aunt who returned from Africa for disease treatment.

The Excellence Award-winning essay "Father's Confession" by Yoo Hoseok portrayed the process of realizing gratitude toward family while staying at home due to "social distancing," something unnoticed during a busy daily life.

Also, student Park Seungju, who received an Excellence Award, expressed the conflicts, hardships, reconciliation, and realizations of a high school senior experiencing the COVID-19 era.

Woo Sojeong said, "Many people are still suffering on the front lines of livelihood due to COVID-19. I hope my essay can offer some comfort to those struggling," adding, "Disasters have taken many things from us, but what they can never take away is our hope."

One of the judging panel members stated, "All contest entrants wrote and submitted their essays with a firm belief that we can overcome the COVID-19 era. That spirit was strong and warm," and added, "We thank all participants and, as always, let us unite our strength to overcome this era of disaster together."

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