"Tradition Flows Through History" Wins Grand Prize at Seoul Metro Photography and Calligraphy Contest

Capturing Everyday Life of Subways and Citizens Through Art

Seoul Metro announced on June 19 that it has selected 30 final winning entries for the "2025 Seoul Metro Photography and Calligraphy Contest," with the photograph "Tradition Flows Through History" chosen as the Grand Prize winner in the photography category.

"Tradition Flows Through History" by Shin Seunghee. Grand Prize Winner. Provided by Seoul Metro.

This contest was held until May 8, with the photography category themed "Seoul’s Subway Stations and People," and the calligraphy category focused on expressions related to "Seoul Metro."

The Grand Prize-winning photograph, "Tradition Flows Through History," captures the daily life at Gyeongbokgung Station, a Seoul Future Heritage site, in black and white. The work was praised for its outstanding sense of perspective and composition, as well as the striking impression created by the contrast between the blurred figures captured with a slow shutter and the stillness of the space.

The Excellence Awards went to "Into the Heavy Snow, For Safe Operation" (depicting an employee inspecting facilities on snow-covered tracks) and "Spotless Again Today" (showing employees keeping the subway clean).

In the calligraphy category, the Grand Prize was awarded to a piece that incorporated everyday greetings with the subway, presenting a unique and well-balanced design. The two Excellence Award-winning works expressed the joy and gratitude felt while riding the subway through warm phrases and friendly handwriting.

A total of 769 entries were submitted to the contest (545 photographs and 224 calligraphy works). After expert review, 25 photographs and 5 calligraphy pieces were selected as the 30 final winners. In the photography category, there was 1 Grand Prize, 2 Excellence Awards, 3 Merit Awards, and 19 Honorable Mentions. In the calligraphy category, there was 1 Grand Prize, 2 Excellence Awards, and 2 Merit Awards. The winners received a total of 12 million KRW in prize money and certificates.

Group photo of the award recipients. Provided by Seoul Metro.

On June 18, Seoul Metro held an awards ceremony and exhibition of the winning works in the multipurpose hall. The winning entries will be posted on the company website and displayed as framed and illuminated advertisements within subway stations. They will also be produced as various promotional materials to be shared with citizens.

Na Inho, head of public relations at Seoul Metro, said, "Through this contest, we were able to see the subway from diverse perspectives as viewed by citizens. We will continue to strive to make the subway a space for sharing cultural and artistic experiences in daily life, connecting people, and delivering meaning beyond that of a mere mode of transportation."

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