November 18, 2016
North Korean Refugee Wins Writing Contest
I came to South Korea to meet my father but the most difficult part was having no friends
Su Ryun Park (15, freshman at Durihana International School) won the grand prize at the North Korean refugees writing contest hosted by Cheil Communications. The award was presented on October 3 at the National Museum of Korea. Su Ryun had escaped North Korea last year and wrote a letter to her best friend back in North Korea titled “Buk chin, Nam chin (Friend in North, friend in South),” In the letter she writes how it was difficult to adjust to a new culture and language and how she misses her friends. She has also won the opportunity to an internship at Cheil Communications.
“The first Chakan (meaning “adjacent Korea” with wordplay to mean “kind”) Schoolmate Unification Writing Contest” is the first writing contest for North Korean refugees. Cheil Communications and Korea Hana Foundation, Ministry of Unification, Dream Touch for All cohosted the event. 300 refugees attended the event from all over the country. Poet Ho Seung Jung, the chief judge of the event, said “Reading the stories, I could feel their pain and their tears and the hope that they are dreaming.” Oct 5, 2015. Reporter Jaewoo Shim at JoongAng Ilbo.
Writing Contest for North Korean Refugees celebrating Hangeul Day at 70th Anniversary of Independence
The first writing contest was held, celebrating Hangeul Day, the Korean Alphabet Day, and the 70th anniversary of the Korean independence.
Cheil Communications announced on October 4 that they hosted the first Chakan Schoolmate Unification Writing Contest together with Korea Hana Foundation, the Ministry of Unification and Dream Touch for All.
It was the first writing contest for North Korean refugees, and it was planned to improve their understanding and interest in the Korean language and to help them settle down in South Korea.
About 300 North Korean refugees attended from all over the country. They took part in the writing contest, watched a performance and participated in various activities.
The main event was the writing contest. and it was divided into elementary, middle, high school and senior subgroups. It lasted for 3 hours. The writing themes given were “Beautiful language”, “Friend”, “My dream”, “Unification” . The judges chose 49 pieces with 1 grand prize and 3 first prizes.
The grand prize was awarded to Su Ryun Park (15, freshman at Durihana International School, photo) who wrote a letter to her best friend in North Korea titled “Buk chin, Nam chin (Friend in North, friend in South).” In the letter she writes how it was difficult to adjust to a new culture and language and how she misses her friends.
▲ Grand prize winner, Su Ryun Park writes during the 1st Chakan Schoolmate Unification Writing Contest on October 3 at the National Museum of Korea. Poet Ho Seung Jung, the chief judge of the event, said “Reading the stories, I could feel their pain and tears and the hope that they are dreaming. The refugees have lived a diverse life both in North and South Korea and I look forward to the good stories that they will be able to write.” Cheil Communications plans to provide the prize winners with internship opportunities to help them settle down in South Korea. “We hope the Writing Contest will help the refugees improve their Korean language skills and also help them settle down in our society by further education and getting new jobs,” says a participant from Cheil Communications.[The 1st Chakan Schoolmate Unification Writing Contest] Prize winners from the ‘Durihana International School’
* Note Prize: Il Song, Hye Song Kim, Yoon Mi Hwang * Runner Up Prize: Rye ryung Park, Hye Eun Jung, Yoon Ah Lim, Il Song *Second Prize: Jin Hyang Suh, Ye Seul Han * Grand Prize: (Minister of Unification Award, Prize of 1.5m won) Su Ryun Park. October 4, 2015. 11:07AM [MoneyToday Reporter Ji Min Kim]