2025 Southeast Asia Sungkyun Korean Writing Contest Successfully Held in Hanoi, Vietnam
On Friday, October 10, 2025, the Southeast Asia Sungkyun Korean Writing Contest took place in Hanoi, Vietnam. Established in 2007, the contest is one of Sungkyunkwan University’s signature global Korean language events, aiming to promote a deeper understanding of the Korean language and culture among people around the world.
This year’s contest marked the first offline event held in five years since the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 56 students from 16 universities across four countries—Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand—participated. Under the theme of “Waiting,” students wrote heartfelt essays in Korean over a two-hour session, sharing emotions and connections that transcended language.
▲ Participants of the 2025 Southeast Asia Sungkyun Korean Writing Contest
Following the contest, participants visited the Temple of Literature in Hanoi, the highest educational institution in Vietnam, which played a similar role to Sungkyunkwan during Korea’s Goryeo Dynasty. The visit served as a meaningful opportunity to reflect on the shared scholarly traditions and intellectual spirit of both nations.
In the evening, an award ceremony was held. SKKU President Yoo Ji-beom delivered congratulatory remarks, saying, “Learning Korean is not merely the process of acquiring a new language, but a journey of expanding one’s horizons and building the capacity to connect deeply with others. I hope your writings will serve as warm bridges linking Korea and your respective countries.”
President Yoo also expressed appreciation to the event sponsors—Beomsan Co., Zeus, Hangul Nuri, and Vietnam National University of Commerce—for their generous support.
▲ 2025 Southeast Asia Sungkyun Korean Writing Contest Awardees
The Grand Prize was awarded to Huynh Thi Hien Doan from Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, who received high praise for her delicate and well-structured essay on “Waiting.” Her work was commended for its profound depiction of discovering the “beauty of slowness” amid the busyness of daily life. A special gift was also presented to a participant recognized for exceptionally beautiful handwriting.
The Sungkyun Korean Writing Contest is well known for its generous rewards. Winners of the Grand, Gold, and Silver Prizes will receive full tuition scholarships for two years upon admission to SKKU’s Graduate School within three years, as well as tuition discounts for participation in the university’s summer or winter sessions.
※ List of Awardees (11 total):
Grand Prize (1): Huynh Thi Hien Doan (Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology)
Gold Prize (1): Thai Hoang Tram Thy (University of Foreign Languages, Da Nang)
Silver Prize (1): Pham Thi Ngoc Han (Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology)
Encouragement Awards (4): Cao To Nga (Ho Chi Minh City University of Foreign Languages and Information Technology)
Phan Chuong Thien Nhu (Dalat University)
Nguyen Ngoc Kieu Trang (Lac Hong University)
Nguyen Nhat Truong (Van Hien University)
List
