Chuncheon City Announces Results of "Chuncheon Painted in Sentences" Spring Signboard Contest

The grand prize in the nationwide "One Sentence for Chuncheon, Spring Signboard" contest was awarded to Kim Haeyoung, a resident of Gangseo-gu, Seoul. Her winning entry reads: "When the scent of spring travels along the Han River, I think of you, Chuncheon. Perhaps it's a greeting you've sent."

Large Spring Wall Mural in front of Chuncheon City Hall. Provided by Chuncheon City.

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On March 31, Chuncheon City (Mayor Yuk Dong-han) announced the winners of the nationwide "One Sentence for Chuncheon, Spring Signboard" contest, as selected by the review committee.

The review committee evaluated the submissions based on five criteria: regional relevance, aesthetics, clarity, originality, and public appeal. Ultimately, Kim Haeyoung's entry was chosen as the grand prize winner. The committee stated, "The winning sentence intuitively links Chuncheon's spirit-symbolized by spring and lakes-while expressing Chuncheon's charm as felt from Seoul."

Kim Haeyoung, the grand prize winner, said, "Whenever I look at the Han River in Seoul, Chuncheon naturally comes to mind. The ever-flowing waves and the vitality of the willows along the Han River always felt like they came from Chuncheon." She added, "I hope everyone who sees the Spring Signboard will be reminded of Chuncheon, a city that embodies the vitality of spring."

The excellence award went to CHU THUY DUNG, a Vietnamese international student in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, for her heartfelt entry: "Chuncheon, met at the end of a foreign road. Now, even when I return, I miss my spring."

The encouragement awards were given to Yoon Jehun (Wonju, Gangwon Province) for "Where spring flows along the Soyang River, Chuncheon flows in my heart as well," and Choi Yeheon (Yongsan-gu, Seoul) for "Chuncheon, the name of the season that walks through the mist above the Soyang River." Honorable mentions included Heo Moon (Jinju, Gyeongsangnam-do) for "Chuncheon: the moment you call its name, it becomes spring; the moment you stay, it becomes you," Lee Unsu (Anyang, Gyeonggi Province) for "Gongjicheon is a music box of spring days; I love the cherry blossom melodies surrounding the lake," and Park Nayoung (Gimje, Jeollabuk-do) for "A city you visit lightly, leaving a piece of your heart behind." In total, seven works were awarded.

The winning entries will be displayed from April on the large Spring Signboard in front of Chuncheon City Hall and will also be featured on major buildings and billboards throughout the city. Stories behind the winning entries can be found on the official Chuncheon City website.

This contest, themed "The Chuncheon I Love," invited submissions for the Spring Signboard from March 11 to March 24. A total of 2,054 entries were received, reflecting high enthusiasm, with a competition ratio of 293:1. Submissions came not only from the Chuncheon area but from all 17 provinces and metropolitan cities nationwide. Notably, about 30% of participants were from Seoul and Gyeonggi Province. Some entrants carefully wrote their sentences by hand or submitted illustrations to accompany their writing.

What stood out in this contest were the diverse stories: college students who pursued their dreams in Chuncheon, families reminiscing about happy travels, and couples who settled in the city after falling in love with its beauty.

Applicant Kwon Hyunwoo (Yeoju, Gyeonggi Province) shared, "During my wandering college years, my time in Chuncheon made me stronger. Chuncheon is where I found my dreams." Lee Uijeong (Gyodong, Chuncheon) confessed in their entry, "For someone weary from life away from home, Chuncheon was true rest and comfort." A representative of the review committee commented, "The various stories expressed in sentences reflected the many different faces of Chuncheon."

Meanwhile, the city plans to hold a second contest in May and continue organizing the Spring Signboard contest quarterly to encourage greater public participation and further develop it as an emotional urban content project.

Mayor Yuk Dong-han of Chuncheon stated, "All of the more than 2,000 entries beautifully expressed the feeling and emotion of Chuncheon, and they reflect the love people across the nation have for our city. The stories in this contest will greatly help shape the national perception of Chuncheon."

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