The 2022-2023 Korean Media Essay Contest is open for submissions.

Previously known as the Korean Literature Essay Contest, the Korean Media Essay Contest is held each academic year to promote the thoughtful consumption of Korean media among students at Indiana University and at our partner institutions.

Starting in 2020, the Korean Literature Essay Contest became a collaborative event between IKS and the George Washington University Institute for Korean Studies. In 2022, the contest was expanded to include all forms of Korean media in translation.

Each year, IU IKS and GW IKS select a work of Korean media and invite students to submit a critical essay about the selected piece.  First, second, and third-place prizes are awarded based on originality, content, and style.

2022-2023 Korean Media Essay Contest

The Korean Media Essay Contest is open to all undergraduate students at Indiana University Bloomington and at selected partner institutions. Participants will watch the documentary Sa-I-Gu and submit a critical essay of 1,000 to 1,250 words. Click here for the detailed guidelines.

Selected Media:  Sa-I-Gu (1993) Documentary 

Film by Dai Sil Kim-Gibson

April 29 marks the anniversary of a tragic day in American history. Violence, arson and looting erupted in South Central Los Angeles, sparked by the acquittal of the four policemen who had beaten an African American, Rodney King. During the tragic days of the riot in 1992, Korean Americans suffered about half of the $850 million in property damage, not to mention the emotional and psychological pain. In the days and weeks that followed, media coverage of the upheaval was extensive but rarely presented a fair and in-depth portrayal of the victims. They made the Black/Korean conflict the cause of the crisis, not a symptom. Sa-I-Gu, literally April 29, presents this Los Angeles crisis from the perspectives of Korean women shopkeepers and offers an alternative to mainstream media’s inability or refusal to present the voices of victims in human terms but make them issues and numbers. Sa-I-Gu provides a perspective that is essential to discussions on the Los Angeles unrest that brought numerous social issues to the forefront – racism, class divisions, crime, violence, poverty, the urban underclass and political, economic and cultural empowerment. —Center for Asian American Media (CAAM)

Eligible Participants: Undergraduate students currently enrolled in Indiana University Bloomington or at selected partner institutions

Submission deadline: Friday, January 27, 2023

Essay Requirement: A 1,000 – 1,250 word critical essay in English

Program Guidelines: Click here for the detailed guidelines

Prizes: 1st Place: $300 Amazon gift card or gift of equal value

2nd Place: $200 amazon gift card or gift of equal value

3rd Place: $100  Amazon gift card or gift of equal value

Students can submit essays here.

On October 28^th, the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the U.S. Lee Soo-hyuck visited the Institute for Korean studies, accompanied by Counselor Eunkyung Park and First Secretary Wookyung Chung.

After arriving at HLS, Ambassador Lee and his team met with Lee Feinstein, Dean of the Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies; Hannah Buxbaum, IU’s Vice President of International Affairs; Seung-kyung Kim, Director of the Institute for Korean Studies; and Callum Stewart, Lead Development Officer at HLS.

The ambassador then gave a talk to a group of undergraduate and graduate students about his experiences negotiating with North Korea as the first Chief Negotiator of South Korea.

Ambassador Lee concluded his visit after having lunch with a group of Indiana University faculty members.

Dinner with Ambassador Lee

The Korean Literature Essay Contest is open to all undergraduate students attending Indiana University and our four partner universities: University of Illinois, Purdue University, University of Kentucky, and University of Louisville. Participants will read an English translated Korean novel Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982, and submit a 1,000 – 1,250 word critical essay.

To learn about this Korean Best Seller before starting to read, check out the reviews on NPR & The New York Times.

The application deadline is December 15, 2020, or until the maximum number of applications is reached. The applicants will submit their essays by January 31, 2020. Any Students interested in learning more about Korean literature and culture are encouraged to apply. Please register by December 15, 2020!

Eligible Participants: Undergraduate students currently enrolled in Indiana University and our four partner universities: University of Illinois, Purdue University, University of Kentucky, and University of Louisville.

Application deadline: December 15, 2020

Submission deadline: January 31, 2021

Essay Requirement: A 1,000 – 1,250 word critical essay in English

Essay Guideline: Click here for the detailed guideline

Prizes:
– First Place (1): MacBook Pro (valued at $1,200)
– Second Place (1): iPad Pro (valued at $900)
– Third Place (2): Apple Watch Series 6 (valued at $400)

Please note that awards $600 or over will be reported on the IRS Form 1099-MISC by Indiana University. The IRS has stipulated that amounts less than $600 are required to be self-reported by the recipient on their personal tax return. Please consult with your personal tax advisor for any questions or concerns.