The awards ceremony for the Korean preliminary round of the 8th International Loving Peace Art Competition, hosted and organized by the International Women’s Peace Group (IWPG, Chairwoman Jeon Na-yeong), was held on the 25th at the Welfare Hall of the Seosomun Annex of Seoul City Hall. Despite the hot weather, students, parents, and teachers from across Korea gathered to share the messages of peace expressed through the children’s artwork.

Art as a Language of Peace Shared by More Than 70,000 Children

First launched in Korea in 2018, the competition entered its eighth year this year. More than 70,000 students from around the world have participated to date. The competition is hosted by IWPG headquarters, while IWPG branches, peace committees, and more than 900 partner organizations organize preliminary competitions in different regions around the world.

This year’s Korean preliminary round was held simultaneously in more than 30 cities across the country on May 16. Under the theme “My Story of Peace,” a total of 3,239 artworks were submitted. On June 18, the judging panel evaluated the entries based on understanding of the theme, creativity, expressiveness, and completeness, selecting 48 final winners.

Lee Ok-soo, director of the Gwanghak Cultural Center, said in her congratulatory remarks: “Art is the greatest and warmest universal language that connects people’s hearts, even when they do not speak the same language or are of different ages. This competition brought together more than 6,800 members of the future generation from across the country, who expressed their vision of a peaceful world through their pure and unique perspectives. I believe this event carries even greater meaning because families, local communities, arts organizations, and various institutions came together around the shared value of peace.”

Each Child’s Own Vision of Peace

During the ceremony, short interviews with participating students were also introduced.

When asked what they were thinking about while drawing peace, one child said: “I heard that in some countries, something that looked like a shooting star turned out to be a bomb, and many people were killed. I thought it would be wonderful if peace could continue everywhere.”

Another child said: “I came to understand what peace means while drawing. I want to tell my family first that I want to protect peace.”

When asked, “What does peace mean to you?” student Han Soo-yeon answered: “Peace could mean a state without war, but I think true peace is when people hug and understand one another.”

Student Noh Si-yeon said: “Even when a friend makes a mistake, not getting angry and embracing them is true peace.”

Parent Kim Ji-yeong said: “To me, peace means acceptance. It is important to recognize the value of peace and put it into practice.”

Students also had the opportunity to explain the meaning behind their own artwork.

Yoon Si-hoo, who drew “The Longing of the Mirror,” explained: “I wanted to express that even amid pain and war, peace that can soar is very close, just beyond a broken mirror.”

Han Jae-yoo, who drew “Remembered as Peace,” said: “I wanted to show how the wounds caused by walking through a thorny path eventually become roses, creating a path of flowers for those who come after us.”

When asked about moments of peace in their everyday lives, the children offered simple answers such as “when I go to school every morning without anything bad happening” (Lee Min-seo) and “when I eat and chat with my family” (Kim Ji-yu).

Parents likewise said that small acts such as greeting family members every morning and teaching consideration and respect at home were ways of practicing peace.

When Peace Takes Shape Through Art

Nam Ki-hee, a Western-style painter who served as one of the judges, also shared her thoughts: “Looking at your peaceful paintings, I became more peaceful myself. I think the very moment you freely express what is in your heart through colors, your hands, and forms—the moment you are drawing itself—is peace. This year in particular, many works focused on family and love, and the paintings themselves were simply peaceful.”

IWPG Chairwoman Jeon Na-yeong emphasized in her welcoming remarks: “A single drawing may not be able to change the whole world, but it can change one person’s heart. When that changed heart reaches another person, it creates a greater force capable of changing the world.”

She added: “Today’s awards are not simply recognition of artistic ability. They are encouragement for the courage and sincerity of the participating students who sought to convey peace through a sheet of paper.”

48 Winners Shine from Across Korea

At the awards ceremony, Moon Ji-ah of Yangjeong Elementary School in Busan, Ahn Ye-seong of Yeomjak Elementary School in Asan, Park Min-young of Munji Middle School in Daejeon, and Kwon Na-ye of Gyeongpo High School in Gangneung received the Gold Prize in their respective categories.

In addition, four students received Silver Prizes, 12 received Bronze Prizes, eight received Special Prizes, and 20 received Encouragement Prizes, bringing the total number of award recipients to 48.

This year, Special Prizes from the Korean Fine Arts Association and the Federation of Korean Arts and Culture Organizations were also added, further enhancing the significance of the competition.

Students from the Incheon area also achieved notable results. Song ○-hee of Yongma Elementary School in Incheon, Lim ○ of Incheon Girls’ High School in Yeonsu, and Na ○-eun of Gyesu Middle School in Gyeyang received Encouragement Prizes, while Moon ○-yeon of Geomdan Lake Elementary School in Incheon received a Special Prize from the Korean Fine Arts Association.

Lee Soo-jin, vice president of the Korean Fine Arts Association and one of the judges, said: “It was impressive to see that the students connected peace with their schools, friends, and nature. They went beyond viewing peace as an ideal concept and thought deeply about how it could be practiced.”

Park Sang-jung, secretary-general of the Korean Women Artists Association, commented: “The messages of hope and consideration were well expressed through a wide variety of artistic approaches.”

Demi Kim, World President of the World Federation of Persons with Disabilities for Peace at the United Nations, said: “I am grateful to IWPG for providing an opportunity to discover the talents of these young and growing artists.”

Hearing About Peace from the Award Winners