Culture Ministry Announces Winners of "Talk Talk Korea" Showcasing Korean Culture Through Global Eyes

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced the 79 winning entries of "Talk Talk Korea 2025" on September 26.

Talk Talk Korea is an international content contest that celebrates its 12th edition this year, aiming to share the beauty of Korean culture with people around the world. The competition accepted works in a variety of fields, including videos, art, and trends, all themed around Korea. This year, a record 76,296 entries were submitted from 108 countries, marking a 27.9% increase from last year. Notably, to commemorate the meaningful 80th anniversary of Korea’s Liberation, a special category titled "80th Anniversary of Liberation" was newly established.

Through a five-stage judging process-preliminary review, first and second rounds, online voting, and final evaluation-a total of 278 entries were selected, including 79 award-winning works and 199 participation awards.

The work titled "Hello!" by Citra Auli Maulida Rizka from Indonesia, who won first place in the promotional video category
Photo by Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism

In the promotional video category, Citra Auli Maulida Rizka from Indonesia won first place with "Hello!", a work based on her experiences before encountering the Korean Wave. In the art & craft category, Merily Roya from Mexico took first prize with the webtoon "Si: The Heart of Kimchi," which centers on kimchi. In the photobook category, Hai An Tran from Vietnam was honored with first place for "Falling in Love in Seoul," which captures her travel experiences in Korea. In the meme & trend category, Sara Mohamed from Egypt won with "My First Order at a Korean Cafe," a witty depiction of her first ordering experience at a cafe in Korea. In the special "80th Anniversary of Liberation" category, Vina Aulia Zakia Sodikin from Indonesia won with "Light of Liberation Day," a piece that uses the acronym G.W.A.N.G.B.O.K. to illustrate Korea’s journey from loss to hope, from silence to voice, and from hardship to strength.

The first-place winners in each category will be given the opportunity to experience Korean culture during an eight-night, nine-day trip to Korea, and one overall grand prize winner will receive the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Award.

The winning works will be released starting September 26 through the official Talk Talk Korea website and social media channels. An exhibition will also be held from November 4 to 9 at Hykr Ground in Jung-gu, Seoul. The Ministry announced that overseas exhibitions will also be organized through Korean Cultural Centers abroad.

The awards ceremony will take place on November 8 in conjunction with the "Korean Culture Grand Festival."

Chae Soohee, Director of Overseas Public Relations Policy at the Ministry, stated, "Talk Talk Korea has become a platform for people around the world to experience Korean culture firsthand, express it in their own language, and connect through shared understanding. This year is especially meaningful as we commemorate the 80th anniversary of Liberation, capturing both the historical significance and contemporary sentiment of the occasion. We will continue to actively support Talk Talk Korea so that it remains a vital channel for sharing Korean culture with the world."

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