A proposal inspired by the aesthetic beauty of Hangeul won the top prize in a competition of new ideas to represent Korea, organized by the Corea Image Communication Institute as part of its 15th Culture Communication Forum, held at the Grand Hyatt Seoul, Monday. Also at the event, an AI-generated image of a Korean person wearing a blend of traditional and modern clothing won the grand prize in the Korea Image Created by AI Contest. The winners were selected through online voting by the forum participants.
"Korea will become a place where the culture of the future comes for an audition," said CICI President Choi Jung-hwa in the opening speech. Song Seung-whan, artistic director of PMC Production, echoed this sentiment in his congratulatory remarks, saying, “There was a time when the national brand and image were low, when products made in Korea had to be sold for less than full price, but now, through the power of culture and the arts, Korea is synonymous with premium quality." Five entries for the New Korea Ideas Contest and 10 submissions for the Korea Image Created by AI Contest were selected from a total of 254 submitted works for final voting on Monday.
The New Korea Ideas Contest aimed to present a new image of the Korean Wave, moving beyond existing cliches. Acclaimed Hangeul calligrapher Kang Byung-in's idea to install a sculpture showcasing the beauty of Hangeul resonated with many, winning him the Grand Award. Hsish Chihmao, associate professor of entrepreneurship.
