Until registration closes

Contest Guidelines

Eligibility

Individuals or teams (no restrictions on nationality or age)

  • Each applicant may submit only one entry, regardless of whether the entry is submitted individually or as a team
  • There is no limit on the number of team members
  • Entrants must hold the copyright and usage rights to the submitted work (or the team must hold such rights)
  • Winners must be able to attend the award ceremony and must not be subject to any restrictions on entry into or stay in the Republic of Korea
  • Airfare and accommodation expenses required to attend the award ceremony will not be provided

Contest Theme

“A World Connected Through Hangeul Stories”

Freely express diverse stories that connect people and cultures, values and emotions, imagination and the future through Hangeul in a generative AI-powered video

Awards

Category No. of Winners Prize Money Award Presented By
Grand Prize 1 KRW 5,000,000 Sejong Mayor’s Award and CEO of the Sejong Culture and Tourism Foundation Award, Partner organization Award
First Prize 2 KRW 2,500,000 each
Excellence Award 3 KRW 1,000,000 each
Honorable Mention 4 KRW 500,000 each

Taxes and all other applicable requirements related to the payment of prize money shall be governed by the laws of the Republic of Korea. For foreign winners, the applicable tax rate may be adjusted in accordance with the tax treaty between the Republic of Korea and the relevant country.

For team entries, the full prize amount will be paid to the representative entrant.

Competition Schedule

  • Submission Period : Aug. 5 (Wed) – Sep. 1 (Tue), 2026, 11:59 PM (KST)
  • Results Announcement : Sep. 29 (Tue), 2026 / Sejong Culture and Tourism Foundation Websites and Contest Websites
  • Awards Ceremony : Oct. 10 (Sat), 2026 / Main Stage, Sejong Central Park

    In addition to presenting awards to the winners, citizen participation programs will be held to create a content-based cultural event that goes beyond a conventional awards ceremony

  • Exhibition : Oct. 9 (Fri) – Oct. 11 (Sun), 2026 / Sejong Central Park

    The winning entries will be screened to share Hangeul-based story content and promote creative diversity

Submission Format

Category Requirements
Entry Specifications Video Length 3–5 minutes
Video Resolution
  • Minimum Full HD (1920 × 1080) / at least 24 fps
  • Landscape orientation required, with a 16:9 aspect ratio recommended
Video Subtitles Subtitles are recommended for videos containing narration or dialogue
Disclosure of AI Use A notice stating that AI was used must appear for at least three seconds at the end of the video

Photos may include images taken by the entrant, photographs registered with Sejong Tourism, or other images that do not present copyright issues

Submission Requirement: Entries must be unpublished videos produced in or after January 2026. Entries that have won awards in other contests or have been commercially released are not eligible for submission. If such circumstances are discovered after an award has been granted, the award will be revoked and the prize money must be returned.

Generative AI Use Guidelines
  • Generative AI must be used to create key source materials during the video production process (such as scenario development, image/video generation, audio generation, or editing), rather than being used solely for minor adjustments (such as resizing, color correction, or retouching)
  • Entrants must provide information on the types of generative AI technologies used in the entry and how they were used

    All information regarding the use of generative AI must be provided accurately. If any false information is identified, the entry may be excluded from judging or any award granted may be revoked

How to Submit

  • Website : www.hangeulai.co.kr
  • Complete and submit the online entry form through the submission page on the contest website
  • Upload the entry to YouTube as an “Unlisted” video (password protection is not permitted)

    Entries must be uploaded during the submission period (Aug. 5 (Wed)–Sep. 1 (Tue), 2026, 11:59 PM (KST))

    After the submission deadline, entries may not be edited or changed under any circumstances during the judging process.

Judging Criteria

Category Score
Relevance to the Theme
  • Does the video demonstrate an accurate understanding of the contest theme based on Hangeul stories and effectively convey its - message?
  • Does the video effectively incorporate the values and emotions embodied in Hangeul and the Korean language into its narrative?
  • Does the video organically connect the identity of Sejong as a Hangeul Culture City with its message?
 20 points
Use of AI
  • Is generative AI technology used effectively throughout the video production process (planning, image generation, video generation, editing, etc.)?
  • Does the use of AI go beyond a merely supportive role and contribute to improving the overall quality of the content?
  • Are various AI tools and technologies used appropriately?
 20 points
Creativity
  • Does the entry feature an original concept and direction that distinguish it from existing content?
  • Does it present an innovative visual reinterpretation of Hangeul and linguistic elements?
  • Does the creator’s distinctive style emerge through the narrative development and method of expression?
 20 points
Overall Quality
  • Is the video’s narrative structure natural and consistent?
  • Does the video demonstrate a high level of technical quality in editing, sound, subtitles, and other production elements?
  • Does the video offer a high level of overall engagement and communicate its message effectively to viewers?
 20 points
Global Potential
  • Are the meaning and emotional qualities of Hangeul effectively conveyed through visual storytelling?
  • Does the entry have the potential to be used for promotion and as cultural content in Korea and abroad?
  • Is the entry presented as universal content that can be understood across different countries and cultures?
 20 points

In the event of a tie, rankings will be determined in the following order: Relevance to the Theme → Use of AI → Global Potential → Creativity → Overall Quality

Important Notices

  • All elements used in an entry, including music, images, and video footage, must be free of copyright issues
  • Entrants shall be solely responsible for any legal disputes arising in connection with an entry, including disputes concerning copyright, neighboring rights, portrait rights, trademark rights, personal information, or infringement of rights resulting from the use of generative AI. Entrants shall also bear all related civil and criminal liability
  • Even if content was generated using AI, an entry will be excluded from judging if it infringes upon the copyright or other rights of another party
  • Entries involving aerial (drone) filming must have obtained the necessary flight and aerial photography permits or must comply with all applicable regulations concerning no-fly zones and aerial photography

    If the footage includes no-fly zones, military facilities, or similar restricted areas, relevant documentation such as flight approvals and filming permits must be submitted

  • Winning entries will be deemed to have granted consent for their use by the host and organizers for public-interest purposes, including promotion, exhibitions, and archiving
  • By personally accessing the contest website and submitting an entry, the entrant will be deemed to have understood and agreed to all submission rules. The submission rules will take effect once the submission has been completed
  • The contest and awards ceremony schedules are subject to change due to operational or administrative reasons
  • If any information provided in the submitted application is found to be false, the entry may be excluded from judging or any award granted may be revoked
  • Applicants are required to review the detailed Submission Regulations before submitting an entry. Download : Submission Regulations

Inquiries