The Korea Times’ Foreigners’ Korean Speaking Contest is a video submission competition open to people from all over the world who are interested in the Korean language and Korean culture. The Korea Times is holding the 2nd Foreigners’ Korean Speaking Contest with the goal of sharing Korean with the world. Refugees and migrants living in Korea are welcome to enter, as long as you are a foreigner, anyone can participate. If you enjoy speaking Korean, please give it a try!

Official contest website: https://klsc.koreatimes.co.kr/KoreanSpeakingContest_2025kor.html

Who Can Enter

Anyone who is a foreigner can participate. You do not need to live in Korea, people living abroad can also apply.

How to Enter

Record a video of yourself speaking in Korean, then upload it to YouTube. You can choose either a long-form video (2 to 3 minutes) or a short-form video (1 minute or under). When uploading to YouTube, you must include the tag #howdykorea in the video title and set the video to public. After that, fill in and submit the online application form on the official contest website.

Speech Topics

You can choose either the long-form or the short-form category. Here are some example topics for each.

Long-form topic examples:

  • Introduce your favorite Korean idol, drama, film, actor, or webtoon
  • Share a funny or surprising experience you had while living in Korea or learning Korean
  • Talk about the similarities and differences between Korean culture and your own culture

Short-form topic examples:

  • Introduce yourself by imitating the voice, speaking style, or accent of a character from a Korean drama or film
  • Share something you find unique or surprising about Korea or Korean people

Awards and Benefits

In the long-form category, prizes include the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Award, the President of Korea Cyber University Award, the Grand Prize, the Excellence Award, and the Howdy Resort Award.

In the short-form category, prizes include the Excellence Award, the SNS Special Award, the Creative Award, and the Howdy Resort Award.

Winners of the Howdy Resort Award will receive a 3-night, 4-day stay for two people (double room) at the five-star High1 Grand Hotel, including breakfast, worth approximately 1,400,000 KRW (around USD 1,000) at the regular price.

All participants will also receive an 80% discount on a stay at High1 Resort.

On top of that, all participants will be entered into a random draw for a chance to win a signed CD from a K-pop artist.

Schedule

Due to an extension of the application period, the winner announcement has been moved to Tuesday, 20 May at 3:00 p.m. Korea Standard Time (KST). The awards ceremony will be held on Thursday, 29 May, and a total prize pool of 9,000,000 KRW (approximately USD 6,500) will be awarded.

Please check the official contest website for the most up-to-date information on the application deadline and any other schedule changes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How will I receive my prize money? Prize money will be sent by bank transfer or handed out in person at the awards ceremony, depending on whether you live in Korea or abroad.

How do I know if my application went through successfully? A confirmation email will be sent to the email address you provided when applying. If you receive that email, your application has been successfully submitted.

Can I enter both the long-form and short-form categories? No, you cannot enter both. You may only apply in one category.