Seoul hosts English speech contest marking anniversary of Korea-Australia relations — Korea Herald
The 55th The Korea Herald English Speech Contest was held in Seoul, South Korea, to mark the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Korea and Australia. A total of 109 kindergarten children and elementary school students advanced to the final of the competition, which was co-hosted by the Australian Embassy for the first time, The Korea Herald reports.
Final in central Seoul
The final was held at the headquarters of Kyobo Life Insurance in the Jongno district of central Seoul. The theme of the competition was “Heralds of Heritage and Friendship: Young Voices Connecting Korea and Australia.”
The event was organized by Herald Media Group, the publisher of The Korea Herald. It also marked the fifth anniversary of the elevation of Korea-Australia relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership. According to Herald Media Group, this year’s contest went beyond its traditional focus on English proficiency to highlight friendship and cooperation between the two countries.
About 600 children took part in the contest overall. Fifty participants received awards, including prizes from the chairman of Herald Media Group, the chairman of the National Assembly’s Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, and the Australian ambassador.
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Winners and discussion
Eight-year-old Shim Yi-jun, who won the competition for the second time, said that friendship helps build confidence in English. “If you want to speak English better, you should find someone who speaks it well and become friends with them,” he said.
The top award in the kindergarten category went to six-year-old Kim Yi-jun for a speech about stars and constellations. The boy said he prepared by trying to speak loudly and added that he was very happy. His mother, Heo Jin Ye, said she helped her son choose a topic that genuinely interested him.
Following the contest, a special panel discussion was held on Korea-Australia relations and global communication. Tourism Australia was the event’s official sponsor, while two Korean Air round-trip international tickets were offered among the special prizes.
The contest dates back to 1953, when The Korean Republic, the predecessor of The Korea Herald, held the first national English speech contest.
