Voluntary Agency Network of Korea and the Korean Schools of Northern California held a “Global Challenge Shorts Contest,” encouraging next-generation Korean youth to introduce the appeal of Korea to the world through short videos.
The competition was organized jointly by the two groups to provide Korean American students in the United States with an opportunity to express, through their own content, what Korea means to them and what makes it appealing. The theme of the contest was “What is Korea, Why Korea? My Favorite Korea!”
The event went beyond a simple video contest and was designed to help young people growing up overseas develop pride in their cultural identity and share it with a global audience. Participants created short videos reflecting their personal views of Korea, drawing on topics such as food, traditional culture, and taekwondo.
About 20 entries were submitted. Within a limited format, students presented creative content that captured both their affection for Korea and their own interpretations. The judging panel, led by Park Gi-tae and two VANK researchers, evaluated the works based on creativity, clarity of message, relevance to the theme, and potential for global reach.
The awards ceremony was held online on March 27, 2026 (local time). Kwak Eun-a, president of the Korean Schools of Northern California, said in her congratulatory remarks that the contest demonstrated the students’ potential to serve as “small diplomats” introducing Korea to the world. She added that she hopes they will continue to grow with confidence and contribute positively to society, in line with the organization’s motto, “Be bold, shine, and be proudly Korean.”
In his remarks, Park noted that as global interest in Korean pop culture continues to grow, there is a rising trend of people wanting to learn more deeply about Korea’s history and culture. He described the submitted videos as important content for promoting Korea globally and expressed hope that the participants would develop into civilian diplomats representing the country.
The winners were also announced. First place went to Lee Ji-an of Mukunghwa Korean School, second place to Lee Ji-won and Lee Ji-yu of New Life Korean School, and third place to Shin Ria of Korean School of Marin County. The first-place winner received an award from the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in San Francisco, while other winners were presented with certificates and prize money jointly awarded by the Korean Schools of Northern California and VANK.
The Korean Schools of Northern California said it plans to continue expanding educational and cultural programs for students. The organization aims to support Korean American youth in growing up confidently within American society while strengthening both their cultural identity and their abilities as global citizens.
The contest marked a meaningful first step for young Korean students in introducing Korea to the world through their own language and video content. Moving beyond simply learning about Korea, the event highlighted their role as active communicators of Korean culture and demonstrated the potential of a new form of civilian diplomacy among future generations.