Gwangju University Hosts 'National High School Students Web Novel Contest'

Applications Accepted Until November 15

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] A contest that allows high school students to showcase their creativity and imagination through fantasy, martial arts, and SF web novels is being held.

Gwangju University (President Kim Hyukjong) announced on the 16th that it will hold the "National High School Students Web Novel Contest" to celebrate its 40th anniversary.

This contest, hosted by Gwangju University, Newspaper Co., Ltd., and SangSang Publishing, accepts submissions in any genre of web novels including fantasy, romance, martial arts, and SF.

Submissions should include a synopsis (overall storyline of 5,000 characters or more) and 1 to 3 serialized chapters, sent together via the official email of Gwangju University’s Creative Writing Department.

The submission period is until November 15, and the title must include "Web Novel Submission." Winners will be announced on December 15. Inquiries can be made via email.

The grand prize, the Gwangju University President’s Award, will be given to one person with a scholarship of 1,000,000 KRW and a plaque. Two runners-up will receive a scholarship of 700,000 KRW and a plaque, and two third-place winners will receive a scholarship of 500,000 KRW and a plaque each.

Notably, if the winners enroll in Gwangju University’s Creative Writing Department, scholarships will be provided for two years (one year for runners-up and third-place winners). Additionally, winning works will be supported with opportunities for book publication and web novel serialization.

If plagiarism or copyright issues arise, awards will be revoked and prize money reclaimed. Adult works, pre-contracted works, and works that have won other contests are not eligible.

Lee Kiho, head of Gwangju University’s Creative Writing Department, said, “It has been regrettable that there was no web novel contest for high school students until now. We hope students will unleash their unlimited imagination in this contest and create fresh and entertaining works.”

Meanwhile, since 2017, Gwangju University’s Creative Writing Department, which was the first in the nation to adopt genre literature as a formal subject, has signed business agreements with Moonpia, the largest domestic web novel platform, and companies such as Fandom Contents Factory and Fandom Books, selecting students and signing exclusive writer contracts.

Professors also actively support creative activities by running small groups to encourage diverse writing among students interested in web novels and genre literature.

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