Children of Overseas Koreans from 65 Countries Put Their Korean Skills to the Test Through Picture Diaries

[Financial News] "Mom, is perilla oil made by squeezing 'wild dogs'?"
Nine-year-old Lee Ju-won, who lives in Russia, expressed in Korean and through drawings how the child learned that perilla oil is made from the plant perilla, not an animal. The picture diary, which described carefully saving and consuming the precious oil little by little because it cannot be purchased in Moscow, won the Minister of Education Award at this year's Korean Language Picture Diary Contest for Children from Overseas Korean Families.
The Ministry of Education and the International Korean Language Education Foundation will hold an exhibition of winning entries from the 2026 Korean Language Picture Diary Contest for Children from Overseas Korean Families at the National Assembly Members' Office Building in Seoul and other venues starting on the 6th. A total of 2,127 children from overseas Korean families in 65 countries took part in this year's contest, expressing through picture diaries their experiences and feelings as they learned the Korean language and culture.
The Chairperson of the National Assembly Education Committee Award went to 11-year-old Jeon Tae-oh, who lives in the United States. In his picture diary, Jeon captured the joy he felt cheering for the local team alongside local spectators at a soccer match he attended to see Son Heung-min, as well as his interest in Korean players. Other winning entries included one about learning the pronunciation difference between 'appa' and 'apa' while practicing dictation with one's father, another expressing a desire to raise a puppy, and a third about a child who became curious about the meanings of the Korean words for 'spirit' and 'face' after hearing the phrase 'the spirit of our people.'
The 20 final winners were selected through the first and second preliminary rounds and the final held at Gyeongbokgung Palace on the 5th. The judges conducted a comprehensive assessment of the works' artistic quality, expressiveness and level of completion. Accompanied by their guardians, the winning children are visiting Korea from the 5th through the 9th for a four-night, five-day history and culture program. They are visiting Gyeongbokgung Palace, Imjingak Resort and the National Museum of Korea, while also taking part in a traditional tea ceremony etiquette class and a hanbok experience.
The awards ceremony will be held on the second floor of the National Assembly Members' Office Building on the 8th. Choi Kyo-jin, Minister of Education, is scheduled to attend and encourage the winning children.
The winning entries will be displayed at the National Assembly Members' Office Building through the 8th, followed by exhibitions at the Ministry of Education in Sejong City from the 12th through the 23rd and at Terminal 2 of Incheon International Airport from the 26th through the 30th. They can also be viewed online on the contest website.
The contest has been held annually since 2017 to increase children's interest in the Korean language and culture. Children from overseas Korean families aged 12 or younger who have lived abroad for at least five years are eligible to participate. The number of participating countries rose to 65 this year, up from 56 in 2024 and 60 last year, while the number of participants fell from 2,328 last year.
Choi Kyo-jin, Minister of Education, said, "From the diverse daily lives and thoughts of children in 65 countries, as well as the images of their families and friends captured in their picture diaries, we were able to see their deep interest in and affection for the Korean language and culture," and added, "We will continue to provide support so that children from overseas Korean families can learn Korean, experience Korea's history and culture, and build closer connections with Korea." 

[email protected] Kim Man-gi Reporter