The 13th National Drawing Competition honoring the artistic legacy of Park Soo-keun will take place on October 17 at the Park Soo-keun Museum in Yanggu, South Korea. The event, organized by the Yanggu County and the museum, will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is open for free participation to children from preschool to high school, with a total of 170 awards to be presented.
Registration closed on October 4, but additional participants can register on-site starting at 9:30 a.m. on the day of the event. If it rains, the competition will be held indoors at the museum.
The competition aims to connect the creative activities of children and teenagers with the everyday life that inspired Park Soo-keun, who captured the essence of ordinary neighbors in his artwork. Born in Jeongnim-ri, Yanggu, Park (1914-1965) taught himself to paint despite limited access to formal art education. He built his unique artistic world by consistently depicting rural landscapes and the lives of ordinary people.
Park focused on the resilience of his neighbors who persevered through war and poverty. The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art describes his works as infused with respect and affection for the daily lives of the common people. His paintings are characterized by a rough texture created by layering paint, along with simple forms and restrained colors.
In this context, the educational significance of the competition lies in encouraging participants to observe their surroundings and express their perspectives. The event serves as a tribute to an artist who found inspiration in everyday life, linking his legacy to the creative endeavors of the next generation.
The drawing themes will be announced on the day of the event. Paper sizes will be provided: 8 sheets for preschoolers, 5 sheets for elementary students, and 4 sheets for middle and high school students. Participants should bring their own art supplies, including paints, crayons, mats, and lunch.
Judging will be conducted in categories for preschoolers, lower and upper elementary students, and middle and high school students. One grand prize winner will receive the Minister of Education Award and a cash prize of 1 million won. Five outstanding awards will be given by the Governor of Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province, and five excellence awards will be presented by the Superintendent of Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province.
Additional awards include the Yanggu County Mayor's Award, the Gangwon Ilbo President's Award, the Honorary Director's Award from the Park Soo-keun Museum, and the Director's Award from the museum, with a total prize pool of 5.5 million won.
The submitted works will be judged on October 20, and the winners will be announced on the museum's website on October 21. The awards ceremony and exhibition opening will take place on November 28, showcasing the works of the grand prize, outstanding, excellence, and encouragement award winners, allowing participants to share their creative experiences with the audience.
Initiated in 2014, this year's competition marks its 13th edition. Last year, the 12th event attracted 849 participants, including students and the general public.
Yang Hee-jin, director of the Park Soo-keun Museum, expressed hope that children and teenagers from across the country will have a meaningful time experiencing the artistic spirit of Park Soo-keun and expressing their thoughts and emotions through their works.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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