This year marks the 4th International Loving-Peace Art Competition, part of IWPG’s “peace culture” initiative to build a world of sustainable peace. IWPG has been holding this event every year since 2018 to plant the mindset of peace in children and teenagers all around the world, the future of our society, and help them grow to lead the peace culture.

This year’s event has been held under the subtitle “Peace, Let’s be friends!” and has received much attention and support from all around the world, gathering 12,000 participants from 52 countries. Yang Hyung Lee from South Korea, Shamika Nilesh Deshpande from India, and Linda Cihařová from the Czech Republic, all esteemed experts in the arts, served as juries for the final deliberation. I express my deepest gratitude for their dedication during the careful deliberation process.

When looking at the drawings of our young peace messengers, I can sense that each and every stroke holds their sincere aspirations for peace, growing all around the world. Each unique piece demonstrates how much our children desperately desire for peace. I am sure that these pieces will inspire their viewers to never forget the world of peace that is awaiting us.

I send a sincere round of applause to all the children and teenagers who practiced peace by demonstrating their talents and to everyone who supported this event. The efforts that you have shown in the process are not insignificant. Just as how every cogwheel must engage for the whole machine to run properly, the movements and efforts of each individual come together to form a large voice that realizes the promise of peace. All of us living in the world are heroes of this mission. We can bring world peace to our lives with our own hands. IWPG will spread its wings wide and become the shelter for anyone who is marching toward peace. IWPG promises to stand with each and every one of you and to never stop until the day a world of peace without war becomes a true reality.

November 2022 · Hyun-sook Yoon, Former Chairwoman, International Women’s Peace Group (IWPG)

This event that spreads peace all around the world is gathering more and more participants every year, and the design, expression, and colors of the pieces are improving yearly. As children think more and more of peace, they become more and more creative, and have a stronger desire to spread their message of peace around the world through their drawings. I believe that this firm determination will ring loudly all around the world.

12,000 children from 52 countries participated in the 4th International Loving-Peace Art Competition this year, and 119 pieces advanced to the final deliberation after going through two rounds of preliminary deliberations in each country (7,408 overseas participants) and each region in Korea (4,524 Korean participants).

Three judges evaluated the drawings based on how well the drawing expressed the theme of peace and love, along with artistry, expression, and the level of completion. All the pieces were excellent, so it was very difficult to make the decision.

One piece was selected as the Grand Prize, three as 2nd place, six as 3rd place, and 21 as Award of Recognition. Elementary student Da Yeong Lee from Korea, the winner of the Grand Prize, was exceptional in expressing a world of peace and freedom without discrimination.

Hoping that a world of peace is truly achieved like the theme of the competition, “Peace, Let’s be friends,” I would like to send a warm round of applause in congratulations to all the awardees. I also hope that those who were not able to receive an award this year never give up and continue to leap toward their dreams.

I would also like to express my deepest gratitude to the other two judges of the final deliberation, Shamika Nilesh Deshpande from India and Linda Cihařová from the Czech Republic. I hope that we can meet in person for the final deliberations of next year’s competition, enjoying Korea’s beautiful autumn season together.

Lastly, I want to express my respect and gratitude to Chairwoman Hyun-sook Yoon and all the branch managers of the International Women’s Peace Group (IWPG) for hosting the International Loving-Peace Art Competition. Thanks to all of you, the song of peace is echoing all around the world. Thank you.

November 2022
Head Judge Yang Hyung Lee (Standing Advisor of the Korean Fine Arts Association, Chairperson of the Gangwon-do Museum Council)
Judge Shamika Nilesh Deshpande (India Artist)
Judge Linda Cihařová (Czech Artist)

I congratulate those children who have participated as well as those who won. Participation is really important because without participation we will not get the best one. Children have done excellent jobs. They have done something more, expressed themselves, have got the prizes and I say all the best to all those children. Thanks again, thank you so much.

November 2022 · Judge Shamika Nilesh Deshpande (India Artist)

It is extremely hard to judge such art because it comes from your heart and each of the judges had a different opinion and many of those I liked didn’t make it to the final choice, but please if you enjoy doing art – painting, drawing and any other kind, please keep doing it. Because if you do so, you bring light to all of us and light into our minds. Thank you so much and I hope you will still be doing art.

November 2022 · Judge Linda Cihařová (Czech Artist)