A K-pop-inspired dream of becoming a film director ... 'Talk Talk Korea 2026' announces 124 winning works

[Financial News] A video by an Indonesian participant who dreamed of becoming a film director after discovering K-pop has won the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) Minister's Award at an international content competition themed around Korean culture. An exhibition of the winning works opens in Seoul on the 17th.
According to the MCST on the 9th, the 124 final winning works of 'Talk Talk Korea 2026' were announced that day. This year, works were solicited in four categories—video, photography, art and writing—under the theme 'My First K-Culture Story.' A total of 55,250 entries were received from 75 countries around the world.
The competition was first held in 2014 and is now in its 13th edition. Last year, when it ran a special category marking the 80th anniversary of Korea's liberation, 76,296 entries were submitted from 108 countries.
In the video category, 'From Curiosity to a Dream,' created by Indonesia's Hosana Akaya Simau, took first place by a unanimous decision of the judges. Based on a storyboard they had created themselves, Simau conveyed their ambition to direct films and music videos in Korea. They also expressed a wish to be called 'Director' someday.
First place in the photography category went to the photobook 'Korea Came to Me First,' created by Iran's Nilufa Kashani. After first encountering Korean culture in 2013, Kashani watched dramas, learned Korean and also began making Korean food. Though they have never visited Korea, they documented a daily life that had grown closer to Korea in a collage of photographs, handwritten notes, letters and certificates of completion.
In the art category, Venezuela's Heynimar Alexandra Ochoa Acuña took first place with 'Once Upon a Time, a Blue Tiger.' The artist became interested in Korean language and history after reading the traditional tale 'The Tiger and the Magpie' at age 11. Inspired by the animation 'KPop Demon Hunters,' they reinterpreted the tiger and magpie from Korean folk painting in a contemporary style. The work depicts a blue tiger emerging from the picture amid traditional cloud patterns.
The top prize in the writing category, newly established this year, went to 'It's Never Too Late to Discover Korea,' submitted by Venezuela's Ana Moya. Focusing on Korean culture's respect for age and experience, Moya wrote that people can find new interests and enjoyment even after turning 60.
The MCST will award Korean travel vouchers to the first-place winner in each category. A separate Minister's Award will be presented to the participant with the highest final judging score.
The winning works can be viewed starting that day on the competition's official website and social media channels (SNS). The domestic exhibition will run from the 17th to the 22nd at Pocket Lounge on the second floor of HiKR Ground in Seoul's Jung-gu district. A touring exhibition will also run from this month through March next year at Korean Cultural Centers in Belgium, Austria and Spain.
An MCST official said, "Through exhibitions at home and abroad, more people will be able to relate to the stories in the works and share their experiences with one another through Korean culture."

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