Korea Tourism Organization Launches Photo Contest for 2026

Korea Tourism Organization aims to promote hidden attractions through photos taken by the public. [Photo=Korea Tourism Organization]

Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) announced on June 22 that it is accepting submissions for the photo category of the "2026 Korea Tourism Contest" until July 31.
Now in its 54th year, this photo contest carries the slogan "Mapping Korea Through Your Eyes." It aims to highlight the charm of lesser-known regions and increase interest among domestic and international tourists. The contest is divided into three categories: digital camera, drone, and smartphone photography.
Entries will be evaluated by experts in photography, tourism, and marketing, along with public participation through online voting. Awards include one Grand Prize (President's Award, 5 million won), three Gold Prizes (Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Award, 3 million won each), three Silver Prizes (KTO President's Award, 2 million won each), three Bronze Prizes (KTO President's Award, 1 million won each), and 90 Honorable Mentions (KTO President's Award, 300,000 won each), totaling 100 awards with certificates and cash prizes.
Anyone residing in Korea, regardless of nationality, can submit entries via the contest website until 4 p.m. on July 31. The final winners will be announced on November 4, and following an awards ceremony and exhibition at the end of the year, high-quality photos will be made available to the public through KTO's "Korea Tourism Content Lab."
Kim Young-mi, head of KTO's Tourism AI Innovation Division, stated, "This contest is an opportunity to discover and promote the diverse attractions of Korea that are not widely known. We hope to see many captivating photo entries that capture the beautiful nature and unique culture of the regions."
Prior to the photo category, the contest also included a souvenir category, which ran from May 11 to 28 under the slogan "K-Goods, Heading to the World."
Notably, the souvenir category has led to successful commercialization and increased sales beyond just recognizing excellent works. Last year's winner of the President's Award, Mimi Design's "Joseon Royal Wine Stopper," has gained popularity at major online and offline retailers, including the National Museum of Korea. Additionally, the 2024 KTO President's Award winner, C-Dot's "Dancheong Keyboard," was transformed into keycap keyrings after selling out.

* This article has been translated by AI.