The Korean government celebrated international promoters of Korean culture at a prestigious networking event in Seoul, recognizing their outstanding contributions to spreading Hallyu around the world. The K-Wave Festival, held on November 8 at the CKL (Contents Korea Lab) Stage within the HiKR Ground tourism center in Jung-gu District, brought together over 200 attendees including foreign cultural ambassadors and content creators who have been instrumental in promoting Korean culture globally.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism hosted the event, which featured dynamic performances by the junior taekwondo demonstration team K-Tigers Little Junior and K-pop boy band EPEX, both serving as promotional models for the annual content contest Talk Talk Korea. The festivities were broadcast live worldwide through Korea.net's official YouTube channel, allowing global audiences to participate in the celebration of Korean cultural promotion.
Fifteen exceptional individuals received recognition at the ceremony, with five winners selected from each of three distinct categories: Honorary Reporters representing 1,498 members from 101 countries, K-influencers comprising 1,303 participants from 95 nations, and competitors in the global content contest Talk Talk Korea. This year's Talk Talk Korea competition demonstrated remarkable international engagement, attracting more than 76,000 submissions from participants worldwide, highlighting the growing global fascination with Korean culture.
The 79 winning works from the competition will embark on an international exhibition tour, beginning with a showcase in Seoul before traveling to Korean Cultural Centers in Vietnam, Indonesia, and Belgium. This touring exhibition represents a significant effort to bring Korean cultural content to diverse international audiences and strengthen cultural bridges between Korea and other nations.
Maulidya Putri Aji from Indonesia, who received the Outstanding K-influencer Award for her innovative content connecting Islamic and Korean cultures, expressed her gratitude during her acceptance speech. "Participating in this program gave me an opportunity to grow. This award is not the end but a new beginning," she said, emphasizing how the recognition would inspire her continued cultural work.
Myrtle Iris Villaraza from the Philippines, a dedicated Honorary Reporter since 2015, reflected on her decade-long journey promoting Korean culture. "I never imagined I would be celebrating my 10th anniversary like this," she shared emotionally. "I still remember the moment I was first selected. This program has greatly supported my growth and helped me share the Korean culture I love with the world."
Hai Anh Tran from Vietnam, whose fascination with Korean culture began during middle school, demonstrated her deep connection to Korea through her academic and professional choices. After majoring in Korean studies at university, she now works at a Korean company and won first place in Talk Talk Korea's Photo Book category. Speaking in fluent Korean, she said, "I believe that if a city or country draws you in, it means there is already a story waiting for you there. For me, that place was Seoul. I am very happy to receive this award as it allowed me to capture the emotions and memories when I first arrived here."
Chae Su-hee, Director General of the Ministry's Global Public Relations Bureau, outlined the government's continued commitment to supporting international cultural ambassadors. "We will continue to support foreign promoters who share Korean culture with the world in a friendly and diverse manner," she stated. "We hope that K-culture helps expand global interaction," emphasizing Korea's dedication to fostering international cultural exchange and understanding through these ongoing programs.
