2026 UNESCO YEAR OF KIM KOO

[KIM KOO HERITAGE Writing & Arts International Competition]

Theme: “The Nation Kim Koo Envisioned”

The Real K Begins with Kim Koo

The man who envisioned Korea's future through the power of culture.

Express Kim Koo’s Vision of Cultural Powerhouse & World Peace.

Inspired by the legacy of Kim Koo, this international competition invites students to explore the values of world peace, history, and culture through creative expression.

WHO CAN APPLY

- Students in grades 4 through 12

Divisions:

- Lower (Grades 4-6)

- Junior High (Grades 7-8)

- High (Grades 9–12)

COMPETITION CATEGORIES 

▸Essay Competition (in English)

Choose one essay prompt from one category:

(Font 11 pt, Arial, max 1,000 words)

- World Peace

- Culture

- Human Rights

KIM KOO HERITAGE WRITING COMPETITION ESSAY TOPICS:

● WORLD PEACE

1. Kim Koo believed peace could not be built on force alone. Do international institutions such as the United Nations fulfill his vision or fall short?

2. Kim Koo is rarely taught outside of Korea, yet his ideas about cultural strength and independence shaped a nation. Choose one figure like him who is overlooked by history but world-changing in impact.

3. Can international events such as the Olympics or the World Cup bridge the gap between nations beyond serving the purpose of entertainment?

● CULTURE

1. Kim Koo wrote that he wanted Korea to be a nation of beauty, not military might. Does this cultural influence called soft power actually protect a country from its enemies, or is it a fragile form of power?

2. Kim Koo preserved Korean identity under occupation through language, art, and education. Select one threatened cultural trait of a nation and explain why it should be protected.

3. Many Asian cultures are built on Confucian values of "family first" and social harmony. As the younger generation moves toward Western-style individualism, can these two opposing worldviews coexist, or is the traditional family a thing of the past?

● HUMAN RIGHTS

1. Kim Koo fought for the right of the people to determine their own future. Are human rights truly universal or do they mean different things in different cultures?

2. Kim Koo operated outside the law because the law served the occupier. When is it justified to resist a government that violates the rights of its own people?

3. Should cultural traditions ever be protected if they conflict with universal human rights standards?

▸Art Competition

Choose ONE theme and format:

● Visual Art (Format: JPG / JPEG / PNG):

    Portrait of Kim Koo (Format: drawing / painting / collage)

● Video (Format: MP4. Resolution: 1920×1080 (Full HD)):

    Create a 30–60 second video inspired by the following lyric from RM of BTS:

    “Pardon, Kim Koo… tell me how you feel”

    Express your interpretation freely and creatively.

    *Must be entirely original (no AI-generated content)

HOW TO APPLY 

1. Complete the application in Google Form ( https://forms.gle/qshKNfffNQyTrbCT7 )

2. Upload essay / artwork to your personal Google Drive

3. Submit shareable link only via kimkooheritage.com

(submit the link via the official Google Form)

TIMELINE 

- Submission opens: August 1

- Submission deadline: September 30

- Results: October 15

AWARDS

- Grand Awards

The participants will be honored with the following awards:

• First Prize

• Second Prize

• Third Prize

• Short List

• Long List

- Special Awards (Subject to Official Approval)

In addition to the Grand Awards, distinguished participants may be selected to receive the following Special Awards:

• Minister's Award of the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, ROK

• Kim Koo Heritage Chairperson's Award

Organized by Kim Koo Heritage

Managed and Operated by Eclat Korea Co., Ltd.

For Inquiries: 

kimkooheritage.com

kimkooheritage@gmail.com